We thought we had heralded peace in the health sector after the NMA called off its strike on 27-8-14 but the recent strike embarked on by JOHESU and its constituent unions on 13-11-14 has brazenly dashed our hopes leaving more to be desired of Nigerian health workers.

 

As the popular saying goes, the first step to problem resolution is problem I identification. What really is wrong with the Nigerian health sector? This fundamental question would expectedly be greeted by a myriad of answers ranging from ineffective leadership to infrastructural scarcity. But I think the fundamental problem responsible for the incessant acrimony and bickering ravaging the health sector is an attitudinal problem. Yes! It is indeed an attitudinal issue.

 

The progressive attitudinal decadence among Nigerian health workers dates back to our school days fuelled by already embittered lecturers/elders in our various professions. I do not in any way wish to play the blame game here because we are all responsible for our actions/inclinations. We tend to blame every other person but ourselves when things go bad; but truth be told, our actions are the outcome of our prejudice and or influence which are entirely under our control.

 

The W.H.O has severally painted a picture of what acceptable healthcare delivery should look like; it should be one comprising a healthcare delivery TEAM with the patient at the centre. Truth be told, the patient is the reason we all exist, he is the reason we are paid huge salaries, he is the reason we are respected in the society, he is the reason we spent sleepless nights in med school. We all exist to care for him- The patient.

 

Only if our healthcare workers would get this picture right, over 50 percent of the problems encountered in the Nigerian health sector would be solved. The healthcare delivery team (HDT) comprises the following: the doctor, nurse, medical laboratory scientist, dentist, pharmacist, radiographer, orderlies etc. The list is indeed endless every member of the HDT must discharge his duties altruistically with the patient in perspective.

 

The NMA was severely criticised by the public during its infamous 55-day strike which led to the death of patients (the exact people whom they were trained to care for) and some health workers amidst the spate of Ebola virus which ravaged West Africa at the time. They (NMA) were further lampooned by their other "team members"- JOHESU.

 

Today, JOHESU is on strike for reasons similar to the unpopular "24 commandments" which prompted the NMA strike. The JOHESU cannot but expect a backashing from their NMA team members. Team members are meant to love and care for each other. They are expected to work with zest and unity of purpose- effective care for the patient. Regrettably, this is a far cry from what is obtainable in most Nigerian hospitals. Little wonder patients in Nigeria go through untold hardship and pain while the rich travel to other climes where the health workers have had a grasp of the concept of team work in health care delivery, Nigeria is arguably richer than most countries where we travel to on medical tourism, we probably have better leaders/ administrators than in those countries where we travel to for treatment; hence my opinion that the fundamental issue undermining health care delivery in Nigeria is an attitudinal issue.

 

  

As apostle Paul said, "...for all have sinned..." we all in the Nigerian health sector have in one way or the other developed this negative attitude of animosity and causticity towards other team members either by our prejudice or influence, hence the need for an urgent re-evaluation of our team spirit.

 

We must understand that we are members of the same team we have to complement each other's efforts, love and care for each other, identify and respect personal and professional boundaries. These, among others are essential for team success.

 

Having accepted the fact that the underlying disease constantly ravaging the Nigerian health sector is an attitudinal issue, I believe this publication is timely. The use of force/trickery by the Govt, or incessant industrial actions on the part of the health workers would not solve this lingering problem but an emotional, empathetic, and most importantly, an attitudinal adjustment on the part of the health workers may just be the answer.

 

I know most of us are just as pained as the writer of this article, while the rest on the other hand are repentant and willing to make the necessary attitudinal adjustment, but we claim our hands are tied since our \"ogas at the top\" are to detect the tempo of the game. I challenge you to make that adjustment today irrespective of what your colleagues think, I encourage you to do right, even if every other person is doing wrong let your decisions/actions/inclinations be guided by that helpless patient agonising on the sick bed.

 

You must constantly remember that what you don't do won\\'t be done, that what you don't say won't be said, that what you don't change won't change- John.C. Maxwell.

 

Be that change you want to see- Mahatma Gandhi.

 

Cheers