South East Group Calls For Urgent Overhauling Of Nigeria's Medical Sector

 

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the umbrella body of all the youth organizations in the South East zone says it is concerned by the death rate of Nigerians as a result of lack of modern-day medical facilities, better hospitals and best medical doctors and personnel in the country. 

In a recent statement signed by Goodluck Egwu Ibem, its President-General and Kanice Igwe, Secretary-General, sent to AllNews Nigeria, COSEYL  called for urgent overhauling of Nigeria's medical sector.

"It is very sad to note that a country that is blessed with abundant resources and best medical personnels in the world can not boast of a good medical hospital that is properly equipped with modern medical facilities and best doctors working in it," COSEYL statement reads.

"Nigeria have good number of doctors and other medical personnels like nurses who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavor working outside the country.

"These persons were offered good working environment, periodic training, better working conditions and better salaries that helped and motivated them to bring out and put in their best.

"Our hospitals are in comatose. Health centers and other medical facilities is nothing to write home about salaries of medical workers are not paid as and when due.

"No good working environment which have resulted to brain-drain in the country.

"Other best medical experts and consultants are abandoning the country for greener pastures abroad.

"Until we address these issues and more, there will be more death occasioned by poor medical attention and facilities.

"Nigeria is too big to be talking about how to improve his medical facilities and hospitals after 60 years of Independence.

"Countries and nations that just got her Independence 10 to 15 years ago have better hospitals and personnels in their country.

"Our political leaders thought that only the less privileged ones will bear the brunt of their carelessness and lackadaisical attitude towards health care in the country but now they are now suffering with they masses they left to suffer at home.

"Outbreak of coronavirus have make it impossible for most political leaders who are part of the bad system to remain here with other Nigerians.

"Some of them who are sick and can't travel abroad go to hospitals owned by foreign firms in Nigeria.

"They don't have any confidence in their own indigenous government or private hospitals owned by Nigerian doctors because they know in their hearts that they have failed woefully in doing the right thing.

"These novel pandemic is a Clarion call for political leaders to turn from their evil ways and restore our hospitals and medical health centers back to its feet. Budgetary allocations made for the health sector does not reflect at all in the health sector.

"Monies budgeted for the health sector unfortunately end up in the pockets of political leaders who claim to have executed these projects when in the real sense, they have not done anything.

"They would rather use the monies looted to travel abroad to take care of themselves and their families living vulnerable Nigerians to their own faith.

"Unfortunately some prominent Nigerians who are businessmen and entrepreneurs that are not part of the ruling class nor share in the blame of corruption going on in the country are also victims of the current incessant deaths that have claimed the lives of Nigerians.

"Most of these persons have provided employment opportunities for the people even when the government have nothing to offer to it's citizens.

"Families of those dependant on these great individuals are in deep sorrow and uncertainty. May God help us.

"South East geo-political lost a rare gem just on Tuesday 9 June, 2020 to the cool hands of death by name Chief Anthony  Enukeme, Chairman/CEO Tonimas Nigeria Limited because of poor medical facility.

"This is a man that has the means to access  better medical treatment abroad but he could not travel out because of the travel ban caused by the novel pandemic Corona virus.

"Chief Okwara Osonwa Okwara former Director of Finance and Accounts, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) died on thurday 11 ,June, 2020 in his country home Ebem, in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State. He  died because he couldn't travel for his medical treatment  oversees.

"So many prominent Nigerians have also lost their lives  because of the inability to access a better medical treatment in the country.

"We have to address this issue now before things get out of hand.

"Most of this death would have been avoided if we had better hospitals and improved medical facilities and good medical personnels in place to attend to Nigerians.

"Death is no respecter of persons. That your not affected today , it will definitely knock at your door step tomorrow. All mortals must die one day but good medical treatment can prolonged ones time of death.

"We cannot continue to be an infant  in everything we do after 60 years of Independence.

"It is totally unacceptable for a country that parade itself as the giant of Africa to be travelling to other countries for medical treatment.

"The government must do the right thing now by providing good medical treatment for all Nigerians.

"The federal government should develop, improve and equip all the Federal Medical Centres in the country with modern medical equipments and medicines with well trained doctors and medical personnels to handle those equipments effectively, equip all the General Hospitals and Health centres with modern equipments and medicines.

"They should also build more specialist Hospitals all over the country that will handle special cases and medical staffs should be well paid and given good working conditions and insensitives that will encourage them to put in their best.

"Medical Directors heading government hospitals like Federal Medical Centres (FMC) and other government owned hospitals who are doing excellently well should be encouraged and supported to do more.

"For example, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FMC Umuahia Dr. Azubuike Onyebuchi has done very well to put the place in shape which has greatly ensured improved and better medical services and attention to patients who come there for medical treatments. He should be encouraged to do more for the medical center.

"President Muhammadu Buhari must as a matter of urgency address the deteriorated [sic] health sector.

"The National Assembly must assist the executive to bring to bear positive results in our health sector.

"It is an embarrassment to see Nigerian government refering its citizens seeking for better medical attention to India , a country that  was rated as one of the poorest countries in the world some few years ago.

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"A stitch in time saves nine. Lets make hay while the sun shines."