It is one Doctor to four thousand patients in Rivers state – NMA

The Nigerian Medical Association has identified deficiency in manpower as one of numerous challenges facing healthcare delivery in Rivers State.

The NMA in Rivers State also observed that the current ratio of one doctor to over four thousand patients was below the standard of the World Health Organization, WHO.

State Chairman of NMA, Doctor Furo Green who gave the highlights while briefing newsmen in Port Harcourt, also observed that medical doctors work under severe and harsh conditions in Rivers state.

He called on the Rivers State Government to come up with a people oriented health care scheme to address challenges in the sector.

The NMA Chairman equally advised local government authorities to carryout public enlightenment programmes on the need to discourage trading under power lines, defecating in drainage channels and other public health threats.

According to Green, “We have cooperated with government and have been very reasonable with our demands exhibiting understanding with the realities of the times. Government has similarly shown goodwill.

“In terms of health care delivery in Rivers state, one of the core issues that bothered the NMA is manpower development. We are working below the WHO standard and this is not good enough for the system.

“The Rivers state government is concentrating on secondary health care delivery but we wish more could be done to develop health care in Rivers state.”