The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Rivers says the 5th NMA Doctors Games, tagged Port Harcourt 2020, will begin on Feb. 17 in Port Harcourt.
Dr Obelebra Adebiyi, the state Chairman of the NMA, told a news conference on Wednesday in Port Harcourt that the event was a response to the increasing cases of deaths amongst doctors and dentists.
She said the deaths might be as a result of association members spending too much time in the consulting rooms and other such places attending to patients, hence the need for the exercise.
Adebiyi said: “The lopsided patient-doctor ratio in Nigeria makes even this worse. We saw this as one critical challenge that needed to be addressed.
“Thus, the NMA as part of our national response to this critical challenge and disaster, and in total recognition of the popular cliché, ‘Physician heal thyself’”.
She said other strategies included health-promoting campaigns and talks delivered to members, the 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 a maiden edition in 2014 at Eket, Akwa-Ibom,” she added.
The Rivers NMA leader explained that the choice of Port Harcourt for the 2020 event was driven by the traditional hospitality of Rivers, and Gov. Nyesom Wike’s love for sports and its development.
She thanked Wike for his support for NMA activities in the state.
Adebiyi said the event would feature Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Badminton, Lawn Tennis, Table Tennis, Golf, Athletics, Chess, Scrabble and Draughts, among other sports.
She said that over 400 athletes from the six zones of the federation were expected to participate, adding that the theme of this year’s games is “Healthy Doctors: Healthier World”.
The games will hold at the University of Port Harcourt Sports Complex and it will end on Feb. 23.
