-Medical and health workers union urges governor, calls for resumption of monthly sanitation  exercise

Members of Imo state Chapter of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria have cried out against the deplorable situation in the health sector in Imo State.

The debilitating factors militating against the sector and conversely, the health of Imo people were brought bare on Friday, March 28, 2014 by Comrade Nzenwata Francis, Imo State Chairman of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria.

THE LEADER spoke with Comrade Nzenwata Francis at the State Headquarters of the Union during briefing on the 3rd annual Health Week which runs between 28th March to 5th April.

According to him, the entire health sector in Imo State is embattled as a result of the policy of Governor Okorocha’s administration on the commercialization and concessioning of health care facilities which has brought the health sector to unimaginable state of comatose.

He observed that the commercialization of the Health sector is at variance with the theme of this year’s health week which is “Universal Health coverage and development of human resources, issues and perspectives”, he said.

Comrade Nzenwata argued that the present state policy promotes the health of only the wealthy few in the society.

He wonders why the workers of the only specialist Hospital at Umuguma are still being owed backlog of salaries which necessitated their going on strike.  He urged the authorities to ensure that the Specialist Hospital is reopened soonest so as to avoid more havoc on the health sub-sector.

According to him, currently all our Health Training Schools which produce manpower that drive the process is in deplorable condition.  He noted that the only surviving College of Nursing and Health Technology Amaigbo is highly imbedded in selfish game which may result to loss of accreditation if the spate is not halted.

He urged the government to ensure sustainable refuse disposal in the state through routine activities and monthly sanitation exercise to elicit public participation in the exercise.

Comrade Nzenwata Francis warns that no government anywhere can sustain comprehensive refuse disposal through contract without active participation and orientation of the people.

He lamented the dearth of health work force in both primary and secondary health care facilities in the state.  Therefore, there is a great need to employ different categories of health professionals to help drive the process as most of the highly experienced health workers are retiring from service.

He observed that mosquito menace in the urban areas of Imo State is unprecedented, posing great health risk on residents.

He advised the authorities to ensure that a state-wide fumigating exercise is applied to avoid malaria epidemic.  Comrade Nzenwata also wants the State Governor to urgently look into the problems militating against the school of Nursing Owerri and the School of Basic Midwifery, Aboh Mbaise so as to help generate able hands and also ensure that these Health Training Institutions are no longer wobbling and fumbling, he said.

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