The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is the professional association and registered for
Nigerian
Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...
doctors and
dentists
A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry (the diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity and other aspects of the craniofacial comp ...
. The NMA has more than 35,000 members from 36 state branches and the branch from the
federal capital territory, including those registered in the
diaspora. NMA's membership spans all six major specialties of Internal
Medicine
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care pr ...
,
Surgery,
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Obstetrics and Gynaecology (also spelled as Obstetrics and Gynecology; abbreviated as Obs and Gynae, O&G, OB-GYN and OB/GYN) is the medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics (covering pregnancy, childbirth, and t ...
,
Paediatrics
Pediatrics ( also spelled ''paediatrics'' or ''pædiatrics'') is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In the United Kingdom, paediatrics covers many of their youth until the ...
,
Public Health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
and
Laboratory Medicine
A medical laboratory or clinical laboratory is a laboratory where tests are conducted out on clinical specimens to obtain information about the health of a patient to aid in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Clinical Medical labor ...
/
Pathology
Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in ...
. The NMA was established in 1951 and is located in
Abuja with over 30 branch offices throughout
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
.
Distribution of members
The 2006 national census showed a population of about 140 million. It has been estimated that about 45% of doctors practice in urban areas where only 55% of the population lives.
This creates an unbalanced doctor-to-population distribution which is one of the challenges of the Nigerian health system that the association and the Federal Government are trying to address.
Governance
The National Executive Council (NEC) is the governing body of the NMA and it has full powers to act on its behalf in the period between the Annual Delegates' Meetings and make policy decisions.
See also
*
Healthcare in Nigeria
References
External links
Nigerian Medical Association
{{authority control
Medical associations based in Nigeria
Organizations established in 1951
Organizations based in Abuja
1951 establishments in Nigeria
Nigeria articles needing expert attention