By Precious Amadi
Patients seeking medical attention in Rivers State could face longer waiting times and overstretched healthcare services if shortages of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel are not urgently addressed, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State Branch, has warned.
The association has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to recruit more healthcare workers to man newly established health facilities across the state, stressing that hospital buildings and modern equipment alone cannot guarantee effective healthcare delivery without adequate personnel.
Chairperson of the NMA in Rivers State, Professor Ureh Oparaodu, made the call while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt during activities marking the 2026 Physicians’ Week.
Speaking on behalf of the NMA National President, Professor Afekhide Ernest Omoti, Oparaodu commended the governor for investing in healthcare infrastructure but emphasised the need to ensure that the facilities were adequately staffed and fully functional.
The association noted that when hospitals lack sufficient personnel, existing medical workers are forced to attend to more patients than they can reasonably manage, potentially increasing waiting times, workplace stress and the risk of compromised patient care.
For patients who depend on public hospitals for urgent treatment, the NMA said adequate staffing was essential to ensuring timely medical attention and quality healthcare services.
Beyond manpower shortages, the association identified insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, excessive workloads and burnout as major challenges confronting medical practitioners, warning that the problems could undermine the quality of healthcare available to residents.
It also expressed concern over the harassment and verbal abuse of healthcare workers in hospitals, condemning the mistreatment of doctors who are already working under considerable pressure.
The NMA National President, Professor Omoti, stressed that medical personnel should be treated with respect and allowed to carry out their duties in a safe and supportive environment.
The association maintained that protecting healthcare workers was not only necessary for their welfare but also important to ensuring that patients received proper attention and that hospitals functioned effectively.
It further urged doctors to continually update their professional knowledge and embrace emerging technologies to keep pace with developments in modern medicine.
Omoti said continuous professional development would strengthen the capacity of medical practitioners to respond to evolving healthcare needs and improve patient outcomes.
The 2026 Physicians’ Week is being celebrated under the theme, “Securing the Future of Medicine.”
The NMA’s appeal highlights a critical concern in healthcare delivery: the need to match government investment in medical infrastructure with sufficient doctors, nurses and other professionals capable of providing care.
For Rivers residents, the association’s message is that access to healthcare must mean more than having a hospital building within reach. It must also mean having qualified personnel available to attend to patients promptly, safely and professionally.
The association is therefore urging the state government to prioritise recruitment, protect medical personnel and strengthen healthcare services to ensure that investments in infrastructure translate into better health outcomes for the people.
