Anglican bishop tasks FG on improved doctors’ welfare

From Noah Ebije, Kaduna

The Archbishop of Kaduna, Anglican Diocese, Most Rev. Timothy Yahaya, has urged the Federal Government to improve the welfare of doctors and other health workers to curb the rising brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector.

Yahaya, who made the call during the annual free medical outreach of the diocese in Chikun Local Government Area, said poor remuneration and working conditions were forcing many Nigerian doctors to seek greener pastures abroad.

“The salary of a medical doctor abroad for six months is more than what a doctor earns here in three years,” he said. “How do you encourage our doctors to stay? The government must urgently address this to save our health sector.”

The cleric said the annual outreach was part of the church’s effort to complement the government in providing free healthcare for the poor, noting that thousands of patients were treated every year by volunteer professionals.

According to him, the programme brings together consultants, professors, pharmacists, nurses, dentists and ophthalmologists, who offer free medical care, including surgeries and eye treatments.

“When people come here with eye problems, we diagnose them, provide lenses and they go home free of charge,” he said. “Healthcare today is very expensive and many Nigerians are dying because they can’t afford even N10,000 for treatment.”

Yahaya urged other religious bodies and civil society groups to emulate the gesture, stressing that all hands must be on deck to ease the suffering of the less privileged.

“I call on religious organisations to take this seriously. We’re only complementing government’s efforts, but the greater responsibility lies with the government to ensure that every citizen has access to quality and affordable healthcare,” he said.

He added that a healthy nation is a productive one, warning that Nigeria cannot achieve economic growth while its citizens continue to battle preventable illnesses.

“Our leaders fly abroad for treatment, but the poor can’t even afford transport to hospitals within the country. We must make this country work for everyone, not just for the privileged few,” Bishop Yahaya said.

One of the volunteer doctors, Dr. Adekunle Alao, a gynaecologist, said the outreach has been running since 2003 and costs between N20 million and N30 million to organise annually, with support from local donors and international partners.

He said despite past security challenges that forced the suspension of similar programmes, the church was encouraged to resume the initiative to continue assisting the needy.

The outreach, he said, reflects the true spirit of service to humanity, adding that saving lives, no matter the cost, is the greatest calling.