There was excitement at the National Assembly on Wednesday as the House of Representatives Committee On Specialty Healthcare headed by Dr Alex Egbona, the member representing Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency of Cross River State introduced a first-of-its-kind health programme for the legislators.
Christened legislative breakfast seminar on the management of various types of arthritis, joint pain and autoimmune disorders, the initiative is part of efforts to promote preventive healthcare and improve overall wellness among lawmakers in the lower arm of the National Assembly.
Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, had taken time to mobiilise his colleagues and sensitized the lawmakers to the expected gains from the programme, urging them to ensure prompt and deliberate participation.
Organized in partnership with the Frontline Infusion & Arthritis Medical Facility Limited, Abuja, the programme featured expert medical presentations, an interactive Q&A session and a breakfast reception.
Egbona, in welcoming his colleagues said his committee considered it necessary to launch the initiative as a way of sensitizing them on top notch medical services on the management of various types of arthritis, joint pain and auto immune disorders, to ensure that they remained healthy and fit to serve the country.
He said: “The committee on specialty healthcare was established pursuant to sections 62, 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Standing Orders of the House of Representatives to ensure effective oversight of the health sector with the mandate over Orthopaedic Hospitals, Psychiatric Hospitals, Eye Hospitals, Blood Transfusion Services, Ear Care Centres, Obstetrics Fistula Centres, Schools of Dental Technology and Oral Health Programmes in Nigeria, Schools of Occupational Therapy, Colleges of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Schools of Medical Laboratory Technology, and specialty healthcare provisions and practices in Nigeria.
“The Frontline Infusion & Arthritis Medical Facility Limited is a world class and Nigeria’s first Outpatient Infusion and Arthritis Management Facility recently opened in Abuja, to tackle chronic pain and autoimmune diseases with state of the art equipment and specialty in Infectious Disease, Rheumatology, Osteoporosis, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Immunology and Hematology offering cutting-edge infusion therapies, non-surgical treatments, and personalized management plans for arthritis and other chronic autoimmune conditions.
He expressed appreciation to his colleagues for turning out for the breakfast health and urged them to pay attention to the details of the presentation which was coordinated by the Chief Medical Director of the medical facility, Dr Helen Mbakwe.
Being the pioneer chairman of the committee, Egbona has introduced various health related programmes for his constituency and boosted healthcare delivery in medial facilities and institutions across the country.
In his constituency last year, he organized what has now been referred to as the first comprehensive medial outreach, where various health professionals were made to handle various health issues, including surgeries.
