It was an embarrassing moment for the new commissioner of health in Edo state, Dr Samuel Alli, as the state chairman of the Nigerian medical association (NMA) Dr Udoka Imoisili took a swipe at her principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, for the appalling state of the health facilities in public hospitals, and scant interest in the welfare of doctors. Imoisili also knocked the Governor for a perceived “serious disconnect between the leadership and the led”
Speaking at the Ordinary General meeting of the Association of Resident Doctors, under the Edo State Government Employment, (ARD EDGE) today, the 7th of July 2023, the Chairman Dr(mrs) Imoisili, thanked the leadership of the Association for the honour.
She lamented the deprivation and poor working conditions of health workers in the state.
*”I admire your remarkable resolve and resilience, despite the harsh, difficult and not so encouraging working conditions, you all still beacon on hope against these odds, and organised an OGM”
In her speech, she said, Edo NMA, is not oblivious of the challenges bedeviling Doctors, under the State employment. Ranging from;
1. The non payment of hazard allowance for almost a year now
2. The minimum wage not paid to only Doctors in the State
3. The disappearing residency programme*
4. Refusal to ensure palliatives despite going to work everyday in the face of fuel subsidy removal
5. The crappy and miserable working conditions.
I could go on and on.
To our utmost chagrin, His Excellency
Governor Godwin Obaseki, has refused us an audience for almost a year now, despite these enormous challenges. We have written several letters requesting for courtesy visit, we have begged and lobbied with all channels humanly possible to table these challenges bedeviling our members, but to no avail.
You cannot claim to be solving a problem for a people you are not in touch with, she cried. “There is a serious disconnect between the leadership and the led”. The good policies and amiable transformation agenda of this present Government needs to be properly integrated for maximum impact and benefit to the citizens.
Good leadership is about listening to the people.
Your Excellency Sir, we have been ignored and down trodden, our clock of patience is ticking away very fast. Our Doctors and Patients deserve something better. A tour through most of our hospitals across the state is nauseating. No restrooms, delapitated buildings, ragged furniture and fittings, no light source and devoid of water, the environment, only fit for poultry.
In addition to these dehumanising conditions, she decried staff shortage and lack of basic equipments, in some large hospitals serving a local government area, you may find just one doctor Manning the work space.
She also said that freedom is not given but demanded, we are as certain as the sun that our emancipation is here, since the government does not regard us a force to be reckoned with, we shall take our lives in our hands, the road may be rough, but on this quest no going back.
And think not that it is the state workers alone that are hurting, every Doctor in Edo State is grieving; *for upon the conduct of each, depends the fate of all, an injury to one is an injury to all.
We have been pushed beyond the wall and a volcanic rumble and industrial disharmony is imminent. Please be reminded that Edo NMA is the social insurance of doctors in the state and if we do not rise up to these act of professional injustice melted out to our members, of what use is our existence?”
