Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau has lauded the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) for their intervention to victims of the Mangu local government area of attacks.

The governor commended the association when the Plateau executive members and elders of the NMA paid a courtesy visit to him on Monday at Government House Jos.

‘’I want to appreciate the association and some of the members particularly those who volunteered during the crisis in Mangu.

‘’I know some of them worked as volunteers to be able to attend to those who were afflected and to also counsell those who were traumatised,’’ he said.

He restated his administration’s committement on repositioning the health sector in the state for effective service delivery, saying that Plateau had the potential of becoming a destination for medical tourism.

He said the health sector had multiplier effects in ensuring the productivity of other sectors of the economy .

‘’Without health, you cannot have a productive economy. You cannot even have effective security personnel to deploy,’’ he said.

He appealed for their cooperation and collaboration to rejig the health sector, adding that they were in the process of appointing a new Chief Medical Officer of Plateau Specialist Hospital.

He announced that they have been given approval by the Federal Ministry of Health for the commencement of the Federal Medical Center in Wase and the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Jos.

According to the governor, he has also given directive for those illegally occupying the temporary site of the Jos University Teaching Hospital to vacate to enable the government use the facility.

He decried the poor state of dental healthcare in Plateau and the urgent need for more manpower in the health sector to meet the requirements of best practices of the ratio of patient to doctor.

‘”One of the ways to do it is to ensure that the medical training of the Plateau State University also takes off as soon as possible,” he said.

He appealed to NMA to use their office to seek opportunities for Plateau people to strengthen its health sector.

He said that the state government was setting up a diaspora desk to harness resources from its people outside the country to shore up development in Plateau.

Earlier, Chairman of NMA in Plateau, Dr Bapiga’an Audu called for the upgrade of secondary health facilities in the state.

He explained that it would comprise of renovation of dilapidated existing physical structure, perimeter fencing I facilities, while calling for the take off of medicine at the Plateau State University Bokkos.

He further explained that the upgrade of the Plateau Specialist Hospital would improve its functionality and build its capacity as a fully operational tertiary institution .

NMA urged the state government to consider Public Private partnership for the purchase of medical equipment in the state.

According to the association, there is a need for Plateau State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (PLASCHEMA) to expand its coverage to facilitate access to effective health services to Plateau residents especially the indigents. (NAN)