World Health Day 2021: DevComs call Nigerian government to address health inequality

As Nigeria join to celebrate the 2021 World Health Day the governments at all levels in the country has been called to, as a matter of necessity to provide equitable health care coverage to all citizens in order to reduce the impact of health emergencies on Nigerians.

The call became necessary considering that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shown the fragile nature of health care services and coverage in the country a situation that has been worsened by the ongoing strike by resident doctors across the country.

This was contained in a statement by DevComs made available to Journalists in Bauchi stating that actions of the Resident Doctors are a direct result of age-long disagreements with the government, an action that impacts more on vulnerable groups across the country.

The statement further contained that, “We, at Development Communications (DevComs) Network, condemn the unequal access to health care delivery between the general populace and government officials, political leaders, traditional rulers, and the majority of the affluent in the society.”

It added that “the majority of Nigerians struggle daily to make ends meet and put food on the table. Most of them still live below poverty lines and the advent of COVID-19 has shown the unequal distribution of wealth in the country.”

“Though Nigeria is a resource-rich country, the majority of citizens continue to wallop in poverty. This has led to a lot of problems in the country from insecurity to lack of many social amenities including steady electricity supply, portable water, and so on,” it added.

According to DevComs, “All these impact on the health of the populace and lack of good health indices is an indicator that we are not thriving as a country,”

Akin Jimoh, DevComs Program Director stated that “The Nigerian government needs to do more for the populace no matter who is in power in the country.”

DevComs observed that COVID-19 has hit all nations with a greater impact on communities and vulnerable groups, with limited access to high-quality health care and a high burden of disease and infirmities.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that “some people are able to live healthier lives and have better access to health services than others – entirely due to the conditions in which they are born, grow, live, work and age.”

“We call on the Nigerian government to address health inequalities in the country and provide a conducive environment for citizens to thrive in good health. Failure to provide equitable access to quality healthcare is unfair to Nigerians,” the statement further contained.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…  DevComs call Nigerian government  ;  DevComs call Nigerian government  ;  DevComs call Nigerian government  ;  DevComs call Nigerian government