The Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria has appealed to the Federal Government to disregard calls by experts in the health sector to privatise public health care delivery services, describing it as unnecessary.

 

The union accused those calling for the privatisation of hospitals of destroying health sector and then hiding under the pretext of privatisation to cover up their corrupt deeds.

 

The President of MHWUN, Biobelemoye Josiah, stated this in Abuja, during the commissioning of ‘Ayuba Wabba House’, the union’s permanent secretariat, named after its former President and President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr. Ayuba Wabba.

 

According to him, the privatisation of public health institutions would cause untold hardship for millions of poor Nigerians.

 

Biobelemoye said, “We are constrained to raise our voice against the incipient push to consolidate a neoliberal agenda in the health sector by some experts who have never borne the burden of want and deprivation confronting tens of millions of Nigerians.

 

 

“The call for privatisation of public healthcare delivery services is an ill-wind that does no good except for the rich and powerful who can afford the best of health services in and outside Nigeria, even when these are at exorbitant costs.

 

“The MHWUN urges Your Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, to roll back the spectre of privatisation under all its guises in this sector. Available, accessible and affordable healthcare is a human right and can be made so indeed only as a public service that is publicly delivered.”

 

He also commended Buhari for his commitment to salvaging the country, particularly in the fight against corruption and insurgency in the North East.

 

“There is no doubt that corruption is a cankerworm that has impeded the development of Nigeria’s great potential.

 

BY FRIDAY OLOKOR 

THE PUNCH