The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) at the weekend, in Abuja, honoured Yobe state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, for his contributions to healthcare in Nigeria and spearheading the transformation of the sector in the state. Outgoing National President of NMA, Prof Mike Ogrima, who presented the award to the governor, described as ‘marvelous and wonderful’ the progress that Yobe has made under Governor Gaidam in healthcare, saying the governor deserved commendation for defying challenges to achieve so much. The NMA cited the broad spectrum of intervention in the healthcare sector that Gaidam has made, saying “those interventions have improved service delivery and quality of care across the state.
Gaidam’s administration has built a brand new teaching hospital and a College of Medicine at the Yobe State University to improve tertiary healthcare and grow Yobe’s own corps of indigenous medical doctors. Major hospitals in Damaturu, Potiskum, Gashua and Geidam, have also been totally retrofitted and equipped to make healthcare more accessible and affordable to the people. “
The infrastructure I have seen in Yobe during my visit include the established new medical college and all the interventions in the healthcare sector are marvelous,” Prof. Ogrima said as he presented the governor with his award plaque. Some may recall that NMA Yobe state branch and the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Nigeria (SOGON) had earlier conferred awards on Gaidam for his strides in the healthcare and for improving the health of women and children in the state.
The NMA has also recognised the governors of Sokoto and Taraba states as well as wife of the governor of Kebbi, Hajiya Zainab Shinkafi – Bagudu, herself a consultant of pediatrician and member of the NMA, amongst others, for their own roles in promoting healthcare in their individual states and the country