Why Nigerians shun public hospitals – Minister

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Monday said poor environment and lack of modern equipment scare people away from the nation’s public health institutions.

Ehanire said this in Lagos at the inauguration of three projects at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the projects are Administrative Block, Amenity (Executive) Clinic and NHIS Clinic.

He said that with good environment and modern facilities, people would be willing to seek medical intervention in the country instead of travelling abroad.

“In Nigeria, we have well-trained medical personnel.

If we have modern equipment in place and good service delivery, we will not need to go abroad for medical treatment,’’ the minister said.

Ehanire also said that strike was not the best option for medical workers to resolve their grievances.

“One of the major challenges is unrest in the health sector where the health personnel always go on strike to press for their demands.

“When medical workers go on strike, people will lose their lives and it will damage the reputation of this country.

“If there is any issue to be thrashed out, let us dialogue, the solution may not be immediate, but we will definitely find solution to it.

“I want to remind you of this government’s promise of an improvement in the health sector and we know that Nigerians are already seeing changes everywhere,” he said.

In his remarks, the Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Olurotimi Odunnubi, said that the newly inaugurated projects would enhance effective service delivery in the hospital.