By Patricia Osegbue :
In commemoration of this year’s Physicians’ Week, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Onitsha Chapter held a thanksgiving and rededication Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Onitsha
Speaking on the theme, ‘keep your environments clean for a better healthy living’, the Chapter Chairman, Dr. Moses Ugwueke said that their message this year centered on improving the health status of the community by keeping a clean environment.
He condemned the attitude of throwing wastes into the gutters and drainages by children and adults alike whenever it rains saying that such would block the waterways and litter the roads with rubbish thereby making it easy to spread diseases.
He threw more light on some communicable diseases that could be caused by dirty environment among which is diarrhea in children.
He urged the people to desist from throwing wastes into the gutters and maintain the habit of keeping the environment clean so as to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
Furtherance in the Church service, members of the Association where called to the Altar for rededication and prayers.
The chief celebrant of the Mass, Very Rev. Fr. Johnbosco Okafor while addressing the Medical Practitioners urged them to always practice their profession with conscience knowing that good conscience is the God that speaks through man.
Quoting copiously from the word of God he said that it is God who established physicians and gave them the knowledge to heal the sick and save lives and as such they should discharge their duties diligently with the fear of God.
The Chapter Chairman while responding to Information Officers in an interview said that the Physicians’ week is a worldwide annual event which usually holds in October.
He said that this year’s event was fully packed with lots of activities which included Health talks, visit to charity homes, Football match and luncheon/award ceremony.
According to him, it is also a time of stock taking on the present year by the Doctors, finding their deficiencies and making amends for a better future.
He pointed out that the peak of their activities this year was the commissioning and handing over of a 3 bedroom Bungalow built by the Association for their long term administrative staff and widow, Mrs. Grace Odilora at her home town, Nagbana village, Umunnachi, Dunukofia LGA Anambra State.
One of the practitioners, Dr. L.M Chukwuma described the year’s event as very successful saying that the general outcome was commendable.
