The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on the Federal Government to pay the attention it paid to COVID-19 to lassa fever, cholera, malaria and other diseases which affect the lower class.

The association also decried the failure of the government in the payment of hazard allowance to medical doctors and other health workers.

The Federal Capital Territory chapter of the association, at the end of the ordinary general meeting in Abuja, also condemned the frequent deaths among medical doctors, especially younger ones from preventable and avoidable circumstances.

A statement released by the FCT chairman of the association, Dr Enema Amodu and made available to our correspondent partly read, “The NMA FCT commends the FG on the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine, as most people have even received the booster doses; but however note with deep concern the less attention being paid to other infectious diseases such as Lassa fever, Cholera and even Malaria that affect more of the lower class of the society.

“The NMA decries frequent deaths amongst medical doctors, especially younger ones from preventable and avoidable circumstances, persistent and perennial shortage of petrol and other petroleum products, lack of commencement of the payment of the hazard allowance to doctors, and other health workers.

“All health workers working in both federal and FCTA health facilities within the federal capital territory should be subjected to compulsory free annual basic medical checkups as part of their New year programme. This will go a long way to picking up serious ailments early to prevent untimely deaths.

“The NMA, FCT calls on FG and NNPC to do something lasting about the persistent, perennial fuel shortage. This situation has severely affected the practice and practise of medicine. Health workers, are now finding it increasingly difficult to get to their places of work, to discharge their duties, not to mention the adverse effects on the health sector.

“On the abrupt termination of the public private partnership arrangement between the NISA medical groups and federal capital territory administration, of Garki hospital , the NMA FCT totally and completely rejects the position of the FCTA.

“This move will lead to a sudden loss of jobs of close to a 1000 workers which include medical doctors, nurses and other workers that have over time contributed to the enviable and successful standard of health care provided by Garki Hospital, Abuja which has helped in maintaining the enviable health narrative in the FCT , amongst the committee of states within the country. The NMA FCT also note that this insensitive, unjust action will terminate the post graduate medical training as well as internship programmes of doctors, pharmacists and nurses presently running in the institution.

“The NMA FCT also recommends the universal applicability of the proposed new hazard allowance to every medical doctor, health worker irrespective of their points of duties. Every health personnel are exposed to the hazards of the profession wherever they are practicing and therefore deserve to be paid accordingly.”