Still in the watch of the Nigerian 2023 general and gubernatorial elections across geopolitical regions, Dr Dillos Mana – a healthcare worker (HCW) in the northeast (NE) region of the nation – gave his views on HCWs involvement in the elections and its outcome.
Read views from other regions here.
MM: Before elections, there was an abrupt change of policy on naira design and circulation. To what extent and how did this policy affect the healthcare sector?
This is the worse national economic policy in recent times. What it aimed to achieve was not clear, as it threw the general population into hardship and also caused a reduced access to healthcare. Patients couldn’t foot their medical bills because they didn’t have access to the new naira note, and cash point within the hospitals were not accepting old notes. This increased the rest of morbidity and mortality as patient could not pay for medications or health service. Most of these patients ended up requesting for discharge, as they could not pay their medical bills.
MM: Thinking on the build up towards the presidential election, would you say that HCWs especially Doctors were rightly involved in the campaign or electoral process?
In my region and state, if at all doctors were involved in the election and campaigns, I’m not aware. But to overcome this abysmal participation, NARD and NMA at local chapters should be involved in creating awareness. The medical or healthcare associations should not only be about deductions, dues, and dinners. A lot of critical issues concerning the trajectory of healthcare service in Nigeria and the welfare of health workers should be a front burner, and not just NEC or NOC meetings at the expense of our dues.
MM: Looking back on the presidential and gubernatorial elections especially in your region, what effects do you think the outcomes would have on the state or national health systems??
For presidential election, the post-election tension was palpable everywhere. Such that, health care staff from other part of the country resorted to walking home from work and vis-versa for few days. In the same vein, the gubernatorial election was a thing of concern because whoever becomes the governor goes a long way in determining the health care policy and implementation in the state. Although, healthcare workers were particular about who becomes the next governor, it all stopped at the door of resident lounges and wards.
In my projection, I don’t think the outcome of this election will affect the healthcare sector. The major challenge facing the state is Human Resources for Health. Shortage of manpower and good working condition (in terms of promotions and remunerations) for staff has been a challenge prior to this year’s elections. And if no effort was made to address them over the past 4 years, what is hope of the common man for change when the same set of people are saddled with affairs of state for the next 4 years? As it stands, the Nigerian health care system is in shambles and the rot has eaten deeper beyond what is seen on the surface of “no staff, no equipment and poor welfare”.
Therefore, Healthcare workers should be politically inclined and get involved in politics. Because, until we get fully involved, nobody will know the magnitude and severity of our issues and be able to proffer appropriate solution.
MM: Can you give us an insight into how the elections have played out in your state and other states of the region generally?
The election really fell below expectation across the country. Following the presidential election and how it played out, a lot of electoral misconduct such as rigging, vote buying, and the likes have been amplified with no consequences. To the extent that, federal might came with billions of naira to my state the night before elections and bought even the opposition stakeholders. It was an eye sore.
MM: Finally, what is your advice to fellow HCWs in this post-election and transition period?
My candid advice to healthcare practitioners is to take care of themselves, whatever it takes. If it involves “japa”, then “japa” to where your practice will be appreciated, where the future of your children is secured, their health-insured and they also have access to better education. Where they don’t have to be from a prominent home or “know somebody” to get what is due or what should be rightfully theirs. To be honest, I don’t think we can achieve any of these as healthcare workers in Nigeria under this crop of leaders because the political will is not there. It all just seems like a circus that cannot be broken, and the corruption has eaten deep into fabric of society. In my opinion, it might sound really pessimistic but with the event of things, Nigeria is not about to change. Things keep getting worse and we are on a downward trend. I remember when I was in 600 level (2015), 100 dollars was 15,000 naira. Now, the same 100 dollars is 74,000 naira. It’s really a jungle out here, especially for the struggling masses.
The retrogression is astonishing, and our politicians don’t care about the common man. They own fleets of private jets, and at a snap, they can access the best of healthcare anywhere around the world. So, they don’t really care about you, the best advice is to look out for yourself as a healthcare worker and leave this country.
About Respondent:
Dr Dillos Mana works with the Gombe State Agency for AIDS, STI control and Hepatitis Program.
