SIR: Nigeria can’t afford another health crisis after the setback occasioned by “COVID-19”. Indeed, any country that doesn’t give priority to health at this time is heading for a crisis in the near future.
As a matter of urgency, the demand made by National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) must be met hurriedly, so as to stave-off any impending crisis that might be catastrophic to the country’s health sector.
Already, there are reports of patients being stranded due to inability of doctors to attend to them; in other reports, some patients were said to have been hurriedly discharged and sadly ordered to leave the hospitals premises even while still under-going treatment. At time the country is fighting global pandemic with its negative effects on the country’s economy as indeed every social strata of the country, the latest strike must be seen as troubling and unfortunate.
The wonder of course is why the government is perennially unable to fulfil promises made to the workers in various organizations. Meanwhile, the same government goes ahead to give priorities to other issues that are relatively less important, leaving those pressing demands touching on public health –so vital to citizens well-being and existence – unattended to. Needless to state that the neglect of the health sector is tantamount to putting the life of citizens in jeopardy.
Of course, the government shouldn’t in anyway joke with emoluments, hazard allowances, and medical training fees of its workers. Giving much attention to the aforementioned would boost the morale of the workers; it will translate into positive outcomes which can only be to the advantage of the country as a whole.
Let the government consider the fact that private hospitals are grossly inadequate in the country. Not only that, most of Nigerians can’t afford the prohibitive charges in private hospitals. In any case, it is a well-known fact that most people find it very difficult to settle medical bills even in government own hospitals, not to talk of the fees charged in private hospitals.
It is unfortunate that Nigeria continues to lose some N576 billion yearly on medical tourism according to the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD. No doubt, this amount if invested in the development of the country’s health care system could have taken us out of our present predicaments. We shouldn’t allow things to continue this way if really we’re serious in developing our health care system.
I therefore appeal to government to settle the demands of the resident doctors and also to give more attention to upgrading existing hospitals, so that domestic demand can be met while attracting medical tourism to the country. By doing so, it will help reduce the demands for foreign exchange and boost our internal revenue generation.
- Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani,
Azare, Bauchi State.
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