The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to clamp down on quack medical doctors and unregistered medical facilities in Abia.

The NMA chairman in the state, Isaiah Abali, issued the threat in his inaugural speech on Monday in Umuahia.

Mr Abali said the new executive would use the security agencies and judiciary to fight the quacks. He described quackery as a menace to medical practice in Abia, especially in the commercial city of Aba.

“This new executive will do everything within its power to make sure quackery is brought to a standstill. We are going to liaise with the state Ministry of Health and start with unregistered medical facilities,” Mr Abali stated. “We are also going to make sure that even the medical facilities that are registered have qualified personnel in charge.”

He added that the NMA would use the judiciary to bring to book anybody working in those unregistered establishments and promised that his leadership would engage the Abia government constructively to make sure that salary arrears of medical doctors were cleared.

Mr Abali is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at ABSUTH.

According to him, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu owes the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba and the Health Management Board are owed 21 months and 11 months, respectively.

“We pray and pledge to engage the government because our members are now hungry and turned into beggars,” the new NMA chair stressed.

He commended his predecessor, Chimezie Okwuonu, and his team for their achievements and pledged to improve the welfare of members.

Mr Okwuonu listed the building of an event centre at Mgbarakuma, Ubakala in Umuahia South local government area among the achievements of his executive.

“I believe the current administration will improve on what we have done because leadership is a continuum. There are lots of expectations from them, but I believe generally that our association will become better because the team is capable,” Mr Okwuonu said.

The other members of the new executive included Oduchi Ewurum (vice-chairman), Daniel Ekeleme (general secretary), Ogechi Amaechi-Ebisike (treasurer) and Clement Ifenkoronye. 

(NAN)