By PAULINE DALLONG
The Plateau State House of Assembly (PLHA), has stressed on the need for synergy among stakeholders in the health sector, saying it was a sure way towards achieving universal health coverage in the state.
This came to the fore, during a public hearing held Thursday at the assembly complex, by the House Committee on Health to deliberate on three (3) bills which are the the blood transfusion safety bill, faith based bill and the traditional and alternative medicine bill all waiting to be passed into law.
The public hearing, had representatives from the medical and health professions in the state, such as Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria, Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Medical and Laboratory Scientists Association, Voluntary Blood Donors Association and the academia etc.
Speaking during the public hearing, Hon. Nanbol Daniel Listick, Chairman House Committee on Health and member representing Langtang North Central constituency, who applauded stakeholders for the interest shown, said the importance of the bills cannot be overemphasized.
According to him, “ it was important for the PLHA health committee to carry all stakeholders along, by way of getting their contributions and feed back regarding the bills, hence the reason for this public hearing”.
“We cannot do it alone as we have to work together in developing this bill. Synergy is important as also team work, gone are the days when one person will think he can stand alone”.
“All of you seated here are the ones that will make this document a robust one. We have done our own part by having debates during plenary but the ideas you people have sent has to go through this process”, he added.
Also speaking on the importance of the bills, Dr. Fabong Jemchang, Director General Plateau State Contributory Health Care Management Agency (PLASCHEMA), said the bills are a win -win for the Plateau people because they are all geared towards strengthening the health care system in the state.
He stated that the business of universal health coverage was a business for everyone, which makes contributions from stakeholders very necessary.
On his part, Dr. Peter Luka Doka, President Traditional Medicine Practitioners association, Plateau State chapter, speaking on the traditional and alternative medicine bill reiterated the need for alternative medicine, saying emphasis should be placed on traditional medicine because of its medicinal properties which had proven to be effective overtime.
According to him, research had shown that pharmacists relied on traditional medical practitioners for their medicines because every medicine comes from herbs and blamed world politics for affecting its usage.
At the end of deliberations and contributions, changes were effected on the bills where necessary. It is important to note that all three (3) bills were unanimously accepted by stakeholders as none was rejected. The blood transfusion safety bill however, had the word committee changed to commission.
