By: Eberechukwu Ezennaya
When the news went viral concerning the recruitment of 500 Nigerian doctors by Saudi Arabia ministry of health and the distortion of the process by the Department of State Security Service, so many things crossed my mind.
Frankly enough, someone who doesn’t have an emergency patient at this time may not understand what we meant by National Association of Resident Doctors, NARD, are on strike.
The industrial action has lingered without any forthcoming solution on sight as the federal government deploy all lawful approach to drag the health workers back to work with the doctors vowing not to resume duty until their demands are met even though the industrial court has ordered NARD to go back to work.
Perhaps, it could be described as taking advantage of our inadequacies, the, the Saudi Arabia government began a recruitment of Nigerian doctors for Arabian medical services.
At a point it’s laughable but beyond that, it’s mind – disturbing.
How will a government commence a recruitment of a significant work force of another government without a bilateral agreement? One may ask.
The fact is that nobody cares who is actually behind the recruitment, Nigerians just want to leave the country by all means.
As shameful as it is that our hungry doctors would pay #10,000 application fee to go and work in Saudi Arabia, it also questions the credibility of the government of the day.
It is said that when all parties involved in feasting on vultures gather, malice and bitterness will be eliminated.
Moving forward, the Nigerian government and National Association of Resident Doctors who have been on one month strike must come back to the table in order to finally lay to rest the ongoing strife between the two parties.
Government must be willing to exhibit transparency and honesty in dealing with the doctors and most importantly, their welfare. Every matter that has to do with the nation’s health sector should receive congnizance attention bearing in mind that we are still facing the dreaded Covid-19 virus.
Therefore, risk insurance and other care packages of doctors such as renumeration, allowances and professional benefits is not to be smashed in political mud.
On the other hand, Nigerian doctors should be willing to shield their sword at least for the helpless countrymen who can’t afford a medical tourism to United Kingdom and other developed countries.
It implies that our doctors would have to dilute all grievances and co-operate with the federal government in the interest of Nigerians.
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