By Helen Ovbiagele
Woman Editor
IT is said that ‘Health Is Wealth’. Any write-up on health issues always generates a lot of interest, especially in the developing world where we’re still trying to find our feet in health matters. Our article on the raised fees recently at the University of Ibadan Teaching Hospital raised the anger of quite a few readers against the government.
They can’t understand why the poor man should be forced to pay more for the dismal health services that we provide in this country, when the government is yet to give its full attention to healthcare.
“Madam, it’s things like this fees hike at UCH that makes one really fed up in this country. Like you rightly pointed out, the fault is not with the hospital but with the government.
Now, how can the institution survive if they have to spend a hefty 3 million naira on diesel for their generators every month? I believe what its PRO said, because I spend a small fortune every month to ensure that my family has electricity for a few hours every day. You’ll find that this lack of adequate power supply is mainly at the root of many of the problems plaguing this country. Thanks. Francis, Badagry.”
“Madam, the poor in Nigeria is being crushed by the government alright, but is it mainly in the health sector that these people are not performing? Anywhere you turn, there’s evidence of rulers who don’t know how to rule. Who can blame them? What shouldn’t get people into power, got them into power, so, they have no commitment towards our citizens. Only a revolution can save this country. They all should be booted out. IK, Lagos.”
I do sympathize with the authorities at UCH, but before you hike the cost of anything, there should be a cushioning effect, especially when it has to do with the man on the street. What’s government or the UCH doing to ensure efficient services at this very important hospital? Will the queues to see a doctor reduce? Will staff treat patients better? Will there be cleaner beddings and environment? They should address these issues. Thanks, Sally, Ife.”
“Hiked fees or not, the UCH remains the most reasonable in fees and services in the country, as far as I know. The inefficiency of the government that established it made it increase its fees. What’s wrong with the government giving free feeding to the poor who use that hospital? What’s wrong with free medical services?
When can we have a whole year without a strike by one arm of the medical profession or the other in our hospitals? Madam, if you know under what conditions medical staff have to work in our hospitals, you would weep for this nation. Forcing hospitals to stretch their meagre resources in order to provide electricity because PHCN has failed, is a sorry situation. Should there be power failure in any hospital?
No. You can imagine the huge number of lives that get lost in hospitals all over the country due to no electricity to carry out emergency operations or treatment? It’s a crying shame on us all. Papa Olu, Ado Ekiti.”
“My view is that if the government wants to improve health care in the country overnight, it can. All they need do is to be determined to do it. The next step is to seriously find out what equipment hospitals desperately need to save lives and treat people.
Experts would then be assigned to research sources for getting authentic equipments, not cast offs and obsolete stuff from hospitals abroad. Modern equipments should be bought, if possible, direct from the manufacturers; ensuring that the spare parts would be available for many years.
Then the government will allow these equipments and spare parts to be brought into the country without any tariff being paid by our hospitals. This would considerably make them more affordable. Training of staff to handle them would be tied into the purchase agreement.
So also would be regular services. To encourage our medical staff to work more efficiently and be more devoted to their work, they should be given decent salaries and allowances, and these should be paid promptly. It’s shameful that we have governments that don’t keep their promises to workers; thereby triggering off strikes with disastrous consequences. Thank you, ma. Patrick O., Jos.”
“Ma, I was a beneficiary of free medical treatment for a stranger who needed sudden medical attention in Europe several years ago. I tripped and fell very badly while racing to catch my bus. Within minutes, the police and an ambulance had come to whisk me away to the nearest hospital. First thing they did was to carry out tests for swine flu, and some other infections to ensure that I was no danger to that hospital and the country.
When I was given the all clear in all those, I was then extensively treated for the bruises and bumps, and kept in the hospital overnight. My supper and breakfast were free, and I was discharged in the morning and given a note I should give my doctor back home for further treatment.
I asked what my bill was and they told me I didn’t have to pay anything. I was overwhelmed with gratitude because when I returned to Nigeria and took the medical notes to my doctor, he told me I was very lucky to get that medical attention fast when I fell, otherwise, the condition would have been grievous.
I then continued my treatment here. I’m so grateful to God for saving my life that way. If it were here, no hospital would take in the patient without a fat deposit first. The truth, ma, is that our governments over the years don’t take health issues seriously. This is because they and members of their families are in a position to enjoy good medical care abroad. We don’t grudge them this, ma, but they should think of the health of the rest of us, since they are the ones in power. + Mrs. Funke, Ikeja.”
“You may write till your pen runs dry, on health and other social issues, Madam Helen, but nothing is going to change. The government here, at any given time, is hardened against the masses. There’s no accountability, and there’s this ‘take it or leave’ attitude about the policies they make. Only God can deliver this nation from mis-rule. – Peter, Kaduna.”
“Madam, let’s not write off this nation. Rome wasn’t built in one day. The government cannot do everything for all citizens, neither can it please everybody. What we should do is pray that the right people are voted into power, not along party lines or religious and ethnic lines.
People who have a serious mission to rescue this nation from the doldrums. Constantly criticizing government efforts will not yield the desired results. I’m not saying you’re wrong to write on the hike of fees at UCH. The government needs to be sensitized to hardships in the nation so that they can take steps to make things better. Thanks. Felix, Benin City.”
“My point is that the government should try to harmonize what we pay at private hospitals. It isn’t always easy to get medical attention in government health institutions, and we do have an abundance of private hospitals all over the place. Not only should these hospitals be inspected regularly to ensure good standard, there should be standard charges according to the grade of the hospital.
Some private hospitals are good, and with hardworking and dedicated staff. It’s just that they’re out of the reach of the common man. That’s why some patients run away without paying their medical bills. Thanks.”
I sincerely believe that the power to exist lies within every Nigerian
citizen. The poor from time has elected and chose to be fooled and
crushed by the minority rich whom advently has become very powerfull.
What has a poor person got to loose for killing the rich ? One life only
and nothing extra-ordinary. Instead, the rich should be afraid of the poor
who has nothing and with miserable health and low life esteem.
Remember the late Lee Oswald, who allegedly killed John kenedy ?
Right after the assisination, Lee was known in history, not just in the
US, but all over the world especially in discussion with American history.
Any poor Nigerian who feels disfranchised can vent his/her anger on any
target rich or popular Nigerian and perhaps, from there on, Nigerians
would start seeing changes in the system. Thus, the poor cannot afford
any cost of geniune litigation against the rich, corrupt politicians nor
affect administrative changes for a better Nigeria. Let disfranchised poor
resort to violence against the minority rich and politicians they serve.
Haithi a thiny island in the Carribeans, gained its independence arround
1940’s by overthrowing their French colonial masters., and it is the first
Slave Plantation to have done so and the first Black dominated island
with its own independence. There is no true Revelution without bloodshed.
If serious attacks are imposed on the rich and politicians, they would do
something serious to be safe. Perhaps reconcile for better treatment for
the poor who serve and obey them on constant demands. The same
poor cook and clean and look after their abandoned families. The rich
have got everything and still not happy. Instead, they are sweezing more
and more on the poor, this has to stop somewhere and very soon too.
Just look at the nature of things, the rich dominate and control the poor,
the next genration of the the same poor. They make sure that the poor
are not safe from their meager salaries and wages to feed themselves
let alone their children. They make sure that poor children would have
no good education if they could be educated at all. That the poor serve
the maximun prison for small infraction and would not be granted fair
and honest trials even if they could afford the legal representations.
The same rich would not pay taxes, would not repay loans borrowed
from the banks and conversely ask the poor to vote them in power.
Tell me any poor person that wants to remain poor or the stigma of
being a perpectual beggar ? The only thing the poor has and protects
is his or her shabby poor health, otherwise, nothing of significant.
If cost of living index goes up, the poor must feel. If taxes go up, it is
against the poor. If commodities are scarce, the rich would import.
If it is on health care, the rich could afford to travel out for a check-up, for
the best oversea doctor and modern medication while his home is
being protected at the risk of the poor’s life with no “thank you” in return.
Infact, let the poor refuse being the poor any more and let every one
learn how to clean-up his or her own mess, And perhaps, we may not
all be rich and may not all be poor and let’s have a “middle class”, now !
It was during Obasanjo’s era that the government resorted to pay the
Nigerian politicians in foreign exchange instead of paying them in the
same local Nigerian naira currency. Why should a Nigerian politician
be paid in foreign exchange of choice while in Nigeria if this is fair, allow
other civil servants to withdraw their salaries in any foreign exchange of
choice. Thus, the government had introduced a segregated class of
diversities. Why must that be, and whose interest did that serve ? Shame !
Ders always rm 4change.we can only bt cmplain & critisize our leaders § d govt 4getin dat we were in our rite copus maintain d veryday we voted dem in2 power.4now,we can only bt wail,wait,hope,fast& pray4 d next electiom 2make amend…no,i mean 2 correct our blunder…bcos,it doz affords us a second chance,”d rm 4 change” cheers!
NOT until, we have a change, the poor people of Nigeria will always be crushed.
Its just so unfortunate that in nigeria lives, especially of d destitute and downtrodden are cheap. Our leaders do not show any iota of concern over our health. Well, who is to blame, after all we ourselves sold our votes out @ cheaper prices 2 those disgruntled elements. Only divine intervention can save us in this country. Lets join hands 2gether 2 flush out those corrupt-minded leaders and sycophants 4rm this country.