The National president of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria has reacted to the news making round that president Goodluck Jonathan has assented to the national health bill. This was made know in a press release titled "state of the nation in health sector" and issued by the associations National PRO Adeyeye Tam, it reads:

 

Our Association (Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria) is worried by the manner in which the current crisis in d Health Sector is being handled by Governments at all levels in Nigeria.

 

In any normal clime, crisis in health Sector culminating in national industrial actions is handled with utmost urgency and attention. Regrettable in our country, crisis and industrial actions in the Health Sector is given little or no attention at all. This unfortunately leads to avoidable loss of lives and economic burden on the masses especially in terms of the cost of getting alternative access to health care locally or outside the country (for those who could afford it).

 

Early this year, NMA went on national strike for days before their issues were resolved albeit with consequent loss of lives. Ditto, the ongoing national strike by JOHESU members seemed not to attract any urgent attention from government and our politicians. With these attitudes in governance and leadership, one wonders how Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Health related MDGs could ever be achieved.

 

Our Association hereby urge Federal Government and other stakeholders to show commitment and give urgency to resolution of the ongoing crisis. Government and patriotic Nigerians should appeal to government to urgently discuss with JOHESU members rather than leave the meeting till 15th of December, 2014. The current situation in d health sector deserves urgent national attention.

 

The National Health Bill: Information reaching our Association has it that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had signed the National Health Bill.

It is our believe that what was presented for assent, was the harmonized version of the Senate and the House of Representatives. That is the version that will lead to achievement of the good intentions of the drafters of the bill. It is hoped that no other version order than the harmonized version produced by the two national assemblies was presented to Mr. President for assent.

 

The crisis in the health sector would even be aggravated if any other version was presented for assent order than the harmonized version. The health of the citizenry deserves urgent and sincere attentions by all stakeholders.

 

Alh T Y Raheem,

President, AMLSN