An Ibadan-based energy expert, Mr. Olusegun Agboola, has charged the Federal Government and the striking doctors across the country to shift grounds in the interest of the masses.
He gave the advice while speaking with in Ibadan on the health outreach for about 500 people, scheduled for September and put together by Ma Foya Foundation, established in memory of his father.
Recall that medical doctors under the auspices of the National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, had two weeks ago embarked upon a nationwide strike over unpaid remunerations.
Agboola said there is a need for the Federal Government and the striking doctors to shift grounds to resolve the impasse, urging the doctors to reconsider their positions, considering that the essence of the medical profession is first to save lives.
Decrying the state of the health sector in the country, Agboola said that the rot could be due to incessant strikes by doctors, while disclosing that about 4,000 doctors from Nigeria relocated to the United Kingdom last year due to poor working conditions in the country.
He said, “Interestingly, some of these doctors that are on strike are members of the NGOs that are providing free service for the people.
“Because they know the oath they took is, first and foremost, to save lives. When there are strikes, it is always around certain demands. But, I know that it is between them and the government.
“But, we need to constantly listen to the demands of the doctors. Because, only last year, about 4,000 doctors relocated to the UK alone.
“We can only implore the government, because there is no where in the world that heath is not given priority.
“So the government should look into their demands. Doctors themselves should also consider the people.
“Basically one of the areas of our foundation is health. We are introducing this health talk, it is health education, when people know what is not good for them, they can stop it.
“We are working with doctors from UCH. We want to sensitise the people. We will take care of 500 people at each of the two locations. The locations are Aremo and Oke Ofa Atipe. The programme is taking place on 23 and 24 September.
“They are also coming with basic medical equipment and drugs. They are coming with equipment to do some tests on hypertension. Hypertension is one of the most silent killers.”
