By Christopher Tom, Uyo
The National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), Akwa Ibom State branch, has emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive health reforms to build a functional, efficient and resilient healthcare system in the state.
This position formed the major outcome of the association’s 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference, which concluded recently in Uyo.
Speaking at the AGM and end-of-year get-together, the State Chairman of NAGGMDP, Dr. Edikan Ackley, said health reforms have become indispensable to strengthening healthcare delivery in Akwa Ibom State.
Dr. Ackley noted that regardless of how ambitious or visionary health reforms may be, their success largely depends on the strength, resilience, competence, equitable distribution and motivation of the health workforce—particularly general medical and dental practitioners who form the operational backbone of service delivery across all tiers of government.
According to him, the conference theme challenged participants to critically examine key issues confronting the sector, including workforce shortages, brain drain, urban-rural imbalance, professional burnout, training and skills gaps, as well as persistent structural constraints that undermine performance and equity in healthcare delivery.
He urged delegates to approach the conference deliberations with openness, boldness and a forward-looking mindset, stressing that collective commitment is essential for improving the healthcare system in the state.
In his remarks, the Local Organising Committee Chairman, Dr. Ndifreke Ataide Jnr., commended Dr. Ackley for his passion and tireless commitment to the association, noting that despite prevailing challenges, the leadership ensured a successful conference that positively showcased the profession. He encouraged the chairman to continue sustaining the momentum.
Dr. Ataide also lauded the Akwa Ibom State Governor for what he described as purposeful leadership and unwavering commitment to repositioning the health sector, describing the ongoing reforms as a welcome development.
The conference featured a keynote lecture delivered by Dr. Peter Inyang, titled “Innovative Solutions for General Practice.” The lecture highlighted the enormous workload faced by general practitioners, citing instances where a single doctor attends to as many as 600 patients, a situation exacerbated by poor healthcare funding and contributing to the ongoing exodus of medical professionals in search of better opportunities abroad.
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