Vice-President Kashim Shettima has appealed to resident doctors to stay and join hands with President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the ongoing efforts to salvage the nation, particularly the health sector.
The spokesperson of the Vice-President, Stanley Nkwocha, in a statement on Wednesday, said Shettima, made the appeal when he granted audience to the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
The association led by its newly elected President, Prof. Bala Audu, paid Shettima a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa.
The Vice-President also implored the doctors to resist the temptation of absconding without flashing a ray of hope.
He told them that Tinubu has their interest at heart, saying: “President has a lot of empathy for medical doctors who have chosen to stay back at home despite juicy offers abroad.”
Similarly, Shettima, who urged the Nigerian doctors not to despair, implored them to remain steadfast and resist the temptation of offering their services in foreign lands.
He said that: “in President Tinubu, you have an ally who will stand by you at all times.
“President Bola Tinubu has Nigerian doctors at heart. He has a lot of empathy for our medical doctors who have opted to stay put at home, not for lack of offers.”
Shettima commended the giant strides of Nigerian doctors and their sacrifices in the service of the nation, especially in repositioning healthcare delivery.
”Let us stay back and salvage this nation together, this is our country and the greatest black nation on earth, and a promising nation that we need to invest in.
”The NMA is one of the most prestigious, preeminent associations in this country. We must commend you for the sacrifices you are making and for staying put in this nation.
“All hope is not lost because Nigerian doctors are making giant strides, recording milestones in the profession and, most importantly, making tremendous sacrifices to serve this nation,” he said.
Shettima further asked the NMA to encourage young doctors to specialize in key disciplines of medical practice and also check the activities of quacks in the profession.
Earlier, the NMA President, Prof Audu, said the executive members were at the Presidential Villa to show solidarity for the Tinubu administration, particularly on account of its laudable policies for the health sector.
“The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has come here today as a partner to your government and a patriotic group of Nigerians dedicated to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda of this government.
“And to ensure that this government delivers quality healthcare to all Nigerians,” he said.
He assured that the body remained patriotic and would fully support the health policies of the government to drive improvement in quality healthcare delivery and universal access to services to all Nigerians.
“This committee will work closely with this government in delivering and implementing the policies of the administration in the healthcare sector.
“The NMA wants to assure and reassure you that it will play a key role in ensuring stability in the health sector.
“This is by extension, stability for this government to deliver on its promises to Nigerians as it has already started doing,” he said.
He applauded the health policies of the Tinubu administration, saying when fully implemented, the programmes and projects will increase the training spaces for specialists in the country.
“It is known as the residency training programme as well as quality of the postgraduate medical training.
“We are sure that this government will address the infrastructural needs as well as the remuneration that will improve the wellbeing of Nigerian doctors to remain and serve in this country,” he said.
NAN
