Saturday, 23 August 2014

Doctors' Strike Led To My Son's Death -Politician

The National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian
Political Parties and spokesman of the All Progressives Congress in
the South East, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, on Friday blamed the nationwide
strike embarked on by medical doctors in government hospitals for the
death of his son.

Speaking at the burial of his son, Mathias Okechukwu, in Eke, Enugu
State, Okechukwu also appealed to the federal and state governments to
provide adequate funds for the health sector.

Okechukwu explained that consultant paediatricians were absent as a
result of the strike when his son was rushed to the National Hospital,
Abuja.

The late Mathias passed on on August 10, 2014.
Okechukwu lamented that millions of Nigerians die as a result of
shabby treatment in poorly equipped hospitals.

Urging the government to address the situation, he said, "Even if it
needs to borrow, as we have entered the debt trap again, the
government should please improve funding of the health sector to save
some of us who grossly lack the means to travel abroad for treatment."

He noted that 'scant attention" is paid to the health sector because
the president, governors and local council chairmen find it more
convenient to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Okechukwu said the government was not treating its medical doctors well.

He said, "Otherwise, how can we in the midst of plenty treat our
doctors shabbily and hence encourage their mass exodus?

"Is it good news that the best Nigerian doctors and nurses are found abroad?

"I can't understand why only N5,000 is paid doctors for hazard allowance."

Faulting the Federal Government's decision to stop the training of
resident doctors, he asked, "Does it make sense for the Federal
Government to stop the training of resident doctors?

"I am yet to find good answer for the poor welfare of Nigerian
doctors, especially when they hear of billions being siphoned by
public officials without sanctions."

However, he expressed hope that with the sustenance of democracy in
the country, Nigerians will begin to enjoy the benefits of good
governance.

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