By Sylvia Akpan, Government House Correspondent
The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, on Tuesday, received members of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), affirming that great nations are built on a foundation of sacrifice.
The Governor gave the charge when he received the team led by the National President, Dr. Uche Ojinmah, in Government House, Calabar and noted that the competition for medical professionals globally was fierce, with Nigeria facing a shortage.
He acknowledged the importance of health and commended the people who chose to contribute to the development of Nigeria despite the allure of greener pastures.
Meanwhile, Otu insisted that the sacrifices were essential for the progress of Nigeria, while he lamented the departure of medical personnel to neighboring countries. He added that more sacrifices must be made by medical professionals for the betterment of Nigeria and stressed that for a nation to achieve greatness, sacrifices must be made.
Having realized that health is wealth, hailed the people who had chosen to contribute to the development of Nigeria and expressed his confidence in the potential of the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the Federal Government to transform Nigeria in the long run.
He maintained that President Bola Tinubu was making difficult decisions and noted that today’s sacrifices would lead to positive outcomes.
Responding, NMA’s National President, Dr. Uche Ojinmah lauded Otu’s urban renewal program in the State and the aesthetics in Calabar and its environs, which, according to him, had restored hope.
“Some people do not understand that aesthetics is part of good health. It is better to live in a clean and comfortable environment and be poor than to live in a slum and be rich because what can kill you may be in the air.”
The National President of NMA also disclosed that his team was in Calabar for the annual conference and delegates meeting of the association and called for the recruitment of more medical doctors in the health sector of the State and the implementation of a new salary scale for medical doctors.
He also intimated Otu that a new leadership would emerge for NMA after the conference in Calabar comes to a close.