Okowa tasks NMA on National Health Act

Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has challenged members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to be advocates of the National Health Act (NHA).

Okowa made the call yesterday at the opening ceremony of the Physicians’ Week organised by the Delta State council of NMA in conjunction with the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC) in Asaba.

Through his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu, the governor stated: “Wherever we find the opportunity, we should continue to talk about the need to operationalise the health act.”

“As a nation, have we done well? The answer is, no. The issue that concerns universal health coverage started in 2004; today, we are still struggling to achieve the 100 per cent mark. I am very worried because, for many years, the issue of health insurance was limited to only federal workers; states did not key into it due to low advocacy.