Strict Monitoring: Ensure Your Directive Should Be Implemented, Patrick Eholor Charges Health Minister
- Lauds Reps Leader Ihonvbere
THE Global President of civil rights advocacy group, One Love Foundation, Chief Dr Patrick Osagie Eholor has urged the Minister of Health, Dr Ali Pate to ensure strict monitoring and implementation of his order to medical personnel, charging them to save lives first before any other thing.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, had charged hospitals in the country to prioritise saving lives above any other thing.
There have been outcries over the years for hospitals demanding police reports from gunshot and accident victims before the commencement of treatment, which has led to many of the victims losing their lives on many occasions.
But speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Pate lamented this situation and said that the Federal Government has issued a directive to hospitals to always save lives first before making any other demands.
“Recently there have been concerns about patients who show up at the emergency facilities and police reports being asked about gunshots or accidents. That’s really unfortunate, but in all federal teaching hospitals, for instance, I was in Maiduguri at the weekend, life has to be saved first.
“Life first and we have reemphasized that. All our hospitals I believe are doing that. No person should come with an emergency, or life-threatening challenge and be made to lose their life while awaiting police report.
“Saving lives comes first and that is the direction we have given; that is what we would pursue and we hope that all hospitals including private hospitals will have this mindset that in health, it’s save lives first,” Pate said.
The Health Minister said that it is expected that states across the nation will also follow up with the Federal Government’s directive in their various hospitals. He also reiterated that private hospitals also have the obligation to follow the same directive, reminding them that as health practitioners, saving lives comes first everywhere
He also spoke on the Federal Government’s resolve to expand health insurance in the country with the recent launching of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Pate added that access to affordable quality health care for all Nigerians is critical on the path to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Reacting to the statement, Eholor in a chat with newsmen in Abuja lambasted health personnel, Nigerian administrators, especially the legislators for not prioritizing the welfare and lives of its citizens.
He, however, applauded the Leader of the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere for being an exceptional and proactive leader.
Eholor said: We must understand that it should be life before anything else. Lives should be saved before anything else. I was embarrassed with the Abuja report where a police report was requested before a saving a Nigerian; it is unfortunate.
“Most of our leaders are sleeping. Majority of them are there for the money, except for few people like my brother, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere who has proven to be different. I am charging the honorable minister to ensure that his directive is well implemented,” he said.
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