The Joint Health Sector Union Nationwide strike(JOHESU) embarked upon on the 17th of April 2018, has crippled patients access to hospitals for primary,secondary and tertiary health care services. From the co-ordinated gathered data by Health Information Professionals On patients who patronized these hospitals but have no access to service is ranging from 700,000 to 1,000,000 across the 36 states of the federation including FCT.

 

This number excludes those patient who require the services of Nurses,LabScientist,Pharmacist,Radiographers, Physiotherapist, Cardiology Technicians,Social Welfare ,Finance Staff, Admin Staff to mention but a few.

As data Managers,the Health Information Professionals provides information on who, when, what, where and how of health care services rendered to the patients but now the provision of all these information are truncated by our Apex Ministry(FMOH) due to selective re-absorption of Medical Doctors as the only Professionals with key to health care services in Nigeria.

 

It is high time for the federal government under the able leadership of President Mohammadu Buhari to review its policies on who should occupy what position in the health sector so that all other professionals can be given a chance.

 

The present chance given to Medical Doctors from the Minister for health down to Chief Executives of hospitals across the 3 levels of healthcare in Nigeria have failed.

 

This Nationwide Strike could have been averted if sentiment on the part of the Minister were put at abet by according JOHESU their Legitimate right which were supported competent courts in Nigeria.

 

Is it illegal for JOHESU to ask for It's legitimate right? We are all Knowledge workers and therefore we must be seen to manage our Health Minister as a Client and therefore, we also have a sense of belonging in the Health Sector.

 

About the Author:

Babale Garba Nafada is the National President, HIMAN