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.”