The Kogi chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has decried the poor welfare packages and shortage of qualified medical doctors in secondary and tertiary health institutions in the state.

The association also decried the delay in paying the monthly salaries of doctors of the state’s specialist hospital, Lokoja, and Prince Abubakar Audu Teaching Hospital, Anyigba.

This was contained in a communiqué by the association at the end of its Ordinary General Meeting (OGM), with the theme, “Retire Early, Retire Ready”, on Saturday in Lokoja.

The communique was jointly signed by Baoku Olusola and Emmanuel Kelvin, its chairman and secretary, respectively.

“We are dismayed by the human resource and manpower gaps in various health institutions at all levels in Kogi state; this is not a good omen for the health sector in the state.

“We are urging the state government to recruit more qualified doctors, to fill up available gaps in various health institutions in the state and ensure regular payments of salaries of doctors and other health workers in specialist hospitals, Lokoja, and Prince Abubakar Audu Teaching Hospital, Anyigba.

“We appeal to the governor of the state to approve and implement various welfare packages for doctors in the state, including but not limited to the new hazard allowance,” NMA appealed.

The association, however, commended Governor Yahaya Bello for the giant strides and for investing heavily in critical infrastructures in various health institutions in the state.

It also appealed to the governor to support three of its members who are critically sick and currently taking treatment in various locations.

(NAN)