A public health consultant at the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, Prof. Abigail Agbo, has been elected President of the Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria for four years.
Agbo, a member of the Jos Diocese of ACMPN, is the current accreditation officer of the Western African College of Physicians and Chairman of Board, Our Lady of Apostles Hospital, Zawan, Jos.
She was elected on Saturday night at the 18th ACMPN Annual General Meeting held in Nnewi, Anambra State to take over from Dr Matthew Ashikemi.
Also, an Otorhinolaryngologist at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, and a member of the Nnewi Diocese of the association, Prof. Evaristus Afiadigwe, was elected Vice President.
Other elected officials were Dr James Ojile (Secretary), Dr Darlington-Peter Ugoji (Assistant Secretary), Ngatida Emmanuel (Treasurer), Rev. Sr. Dr. Assumpta Ikenna(Financial Secretary), Dr Phina Muojiuba(PRO), Dr Dubem Awachie(Provost) and Rev. Sr (Dr)Ancilla Umeobieri (Internal Auditor).
The result was announced by Dr Ignatia Okafor, the returning officer.
Reacting to the development, Agbo thanked members of ACMPN for handing her the mantle of leadership and promised to build on the success of previous administrations to achieve the set objectives of the association.
She said the body under her leadership would work with the church to provide quality health education and mentorship for upcoming professionals with a view to addressing the manpower gap in the sector.
“We will build on the legacies of past administrations, and encourage more members to participate to achieve ACMPN objectives which include promoting excellence, and spirituality and providing leadership in our various places of work as Catholic professionals.
“As a body, we partner with educationally inclined Institutions, promote quality medical training, and leverage the Church’s solid structure on health and education.
“We are going to provide our services and work as volunteers as part of our efforts towards addressing brain drain in the health sector,” she said.