Tag 5th NMA Doctors Games

Fitness
By Omuboye Sukubo
Port Harcourt, Feb. 17, 2020 (NAN) The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 5th Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Games says no doctor will participate in the competition without submitting his or her certificate of medical fitness.

Chairman of the LOC, Abiye Tamuno-Opubo, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Monday ahead of the arrival of athletes for the event in Rivers.

Tamuno-Opubo said the directive to athletes to produce certificate of fitness was a confirmation that doctors practise what they preach.

“The certificate of fitness becomes necessary in the event of a mini marathon or a few other games that may be strenuous.

“We asked all doctors that will participate to produce certificates of fitness. That is the order, and if you don’t submit it to certify you for the Games, you will not participate.

“And the participants are complying because a lot of the athletes have submitted theirs. So, we actually practise what we preach,” he said.

Speaking also, the Technical Adviser to the LOC, Vincent Nwachukwu, said the 5th NMA Doctors Games in Port Harcourt would be organised in collaboration with the Rivers Sports Council.

“The Rivers Sports Council is aware of the Games and the Council will give us technical support and provide referees for all the sports.

“They are going to officiate, except in football which the Rivers Referees Council will give us referees.

“This tells you that we are keeping the Games at the right standard,” Nwachukwu said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that more than 400 athletes across the country are expected to arrive on Monday, with the opening ceremony slated for Tuesday.

The NMA Doctors Games will have teams representing the association’s seven zones, with host state Rivers competing as a zone.

This makes it eight zones taking part in the Port Harcourt 2020 event.(NAN)
OAS/JPE/OLAL
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(Edited by Joseph Edeh and Olawale Alabi)

Games

By Omuboye Sukubo

Port Harcourt, Feb. 12, 2020 (NAN) The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Rivers says more than 400 athletes from its six zones are being expected to participate in the fifth edition of the NMA Doctors Games.

Obelebra Adebiyi, Chairman of Rivers NMA, told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that all arrangements had been concluded for a successful hosting of the Games billed to begin on Monday.

She said the Games tagged “Port Harcourt 2020’’ was expected to end on Feb. 23.

Adebiyi said the doctors’ games was a strategic response to the spine-chilling increase in the number of deaths and morbidity among doctors and dentists.

She said the association realised that its members spent too much time in the consulting rooms and other such places attending to their patients.

“The lopsided patient-doctor ratio in Nigeria makes even this worse: We saw this as one critical challenge that needed to be addressed.

“Therefore, the Games is part of NMA’s national response to this critical challenge and disaster, and it is in total recognition of the popular cliché `Physician heal thyself’,’’ Adebiyi said.

She recalled that the association had in 2012 began the faithful implementation of some strategies aimed at promoting the health and well-being of Nigerian doctors.

The NMA official said the strategies included health-promoting campaigns and talks delivered to members, institution of a Trust Fund and comprehensive welfare scheme.

“Free health checks for doctors during all national activities of the NMA, as well as the institution of a National Games, with the maiden edition held in 2014 at Eket in Akwa-Ibom,” she added.

Adebiyi disclosed that Port Harcourt’s choice for the 2020 event was driven by the traditional hospitality of Rivers, as well as Gov. Nyesom Wike’s love for sports and its development.

“Wike’s love for sports and the advances in development made under his administration have made Rivers a secure destination of choice for many national and international events.

“Therefore, we thank Gov. Wike for his massive support for the NMA in Rivers in all our games,” she said.

Adebiyi disclosed that the Port Harcourt 2020 Games has the theme “Healthy Doctors; Healthier World’’, and would feature events such as football, volleyball, basketball and badminton.

“Other events are tennis, table tennis, golf, athletics, chess, scrabble, draught, et cetera.’’

The NMA official assured that the 2020 edition of the Games was an improved edition of the competition.

“This is because of the inclusion of golf and athletics, and especially the 4 x 100m relay race and a mini-marathon.’’

She expressed also that it was the dream and vision of the association to see the NMA Doctors Games transform into the West African Medical Doctors Games.

“We also wish it will be a reservoir for athletes for all of Nigerian national teams in various sports,” Adebiyi said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2020 Games’ opening ceremony will have a football match.

Adebiyi said the match would be between the NMA male football team and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives male football team.

“This is to improve inter-professional relationships within the health sector.’’

NAN reports also that the 5th NMA Doctors Games will hold at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Complex, with the opening ceremony billed for the defunct Sharks FC Stadium.(NAN)

OAS/JI/OLAL

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(Edited by Joe Idika and Olawale Alabi)