This is a thread that seeks to bring to us the voices of the doctors from all around the country, regarding the trending topics about the health sector in Nigeria.

These comments are basically from the social media, but opinions from the mainstream media may also be added as appropriate.

It is not meant to be epistles, just random thoughts of the everyday doctor as the events in the health sector unfold


comments and intelligent discussion will be welcome.


But no war please

Unlike in nairaland where identities are largely annonymous, these quotes are culled from 'real' platforms such as, but not limited to, facebook. So they clearly represent what the 'real' people say, or how they feel

''Why do people think that resident doctors are being paid to study?resident doctors have agreement with the govt to take care of her patients, in the process they are provided the environment for further learning and pay for the services they render. They constitute about 80% of the doctors(workforce) in teaching hospitals and contribute to the training of medical students. Stop residency, stop medical students' training'' -Dr R.C.O

''Dear colleagues in residency, be sure to collect your "sack letters" OR YOU WILL BE SACKED!!! A nation that does not appreciate the effort and labor of her doctors only encourages suffering among her people and emigration of skilled people/ the best.'' - Dr O, N.N

The Hippocratic Oath is not an oath of slavery! Every worker deserves just wages. Why is it that when Drs in Nigeria ask for better wages they are seen as greedy? However, in the UK and the US, UAE or any reasonable country the margin btween drs and other professions in terms of pay and benefits is like from earth to the moon.
Drs in GOVT HOSPITALS. Went on strike because of targeted attempts by some factions to usurp their position, annul their rights and create anarchy in the health care system.
Kinda like a mutiny/ coup with lots of lobbying and forming coalitions/ anti-doctor unions and group. These groups pressured the govt into make erroneous decisions some of which the govt has rescinded, others still pending.
Also, the govt has been dilly dallying about paying drs the new rate promised for a long time.
When ASUU went on strike, they were not demonized but drs will always have blackmail and calumny to contend with each time they are fighting for their rights. Next thing people would say is, "IT IS LIFE YOU ARE DEALING WITH". Without caring that the Dr too has a life and is entitled to a good life.
We got higher grades in school,
Paid higher fees in school
Had a larger course load/ academic content
Had a longer period of stay in the university compared to any other discipline. Even after the internship and national service, we still go back for a specialist training that lasts a minimum of 4 and a half years. At this time our maters in other depts are already managers or senior personnel in the corporate world/ their chosen field yet you expect us not to be adequately compensated?
If u were a business man and you invested so much or even half as much into a project or business, wouldn't you expect high returns? But a Dr. asks for just wages and order amongst the ranks and it's seen as pride and greed.
Why dont you just go to the factory and design a slowpoke and make him your doctor cos clearly a bat can see the imbalance/ injustice or better yet go online on JUMIA and order an idiot..
Drs have to be paid well a big fat juicy salary at that.
''IF A DR WANTS TO BE CHARITABLE, HE WOULD FORM AN NGO AND OFFER FREE TREATMENT/ SERVICES.
A government hospital is not a "NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION" so please dont mess with a man's pay
or force low income on him because he's a lifesaver.''
Dr O, N N

This one is rather, but it is a thought-provoking satire written by a 600L Med student

After all, who doesn't know that the best treatment for a headache is to cut off the said head, even if the headache is only pointing to a more sinister problem?
Why should they ask for better equipment to work with? Why do they need CT and MRI machines to diagnose when we have our ancient African technology of seeing a person miles away in the palms of our hands?
Why should they ask for grants for researches? Shouldnt their jumbo pays be enough to fund such studies? Why havent they found a cure for this viral haemorrhagic fever? Why should they fault you for begging the Americans to give us ZMapp?
What are big brothers for? Is it not to clean up their younger ones every time they pee intheir pants?
Why shouldn't you blame them for the ebola outbreak in the country? Isn't manning the borders supposed to be part of their work?
Why should they say they want to be the only ones to be tagged as Consultants? Is it not a mere sobriquet every Tom, Dick, and Harry can choose to be called by? Havent people started calling me Professor as far back as my primary school days?
Why do they oppose(sic) relativity in the health sector? Arent men born equal? Do they think you have forgotten that the quest for relativism caused the biblical fall of man? Why should they want to head the medical team because they claim they are better intellectually equipped? Isnt that egotistical?
Why should they tell you to extend universal health coverage to all citizens? Dont they know that the citizens are wealthy enough to fund their medical expenses? Why are they even fighting for the masses? Do they know how many of the intended recipients of the policy jumped for joy when you called for the heads of their supposed activists?
Why didnt they take you by your word when you signed the said agreement with them earlier in the year? Why do they insist on implementation? Dont they know ASUU went on strike for a different reason last year, other than non-implementation of an agreement signed in 2009? Do they think your pacts are worthless?
Why should they tell you not to remind them of their sacred Hippocratic Oath and not go on strike? Dont they know you also took an oath when you came into office? Shouldnt they know you swore to protect the interest of the ordinary citizen and that is just what you are doing?
Why should they clamour for increased pay? Don't they know that this country isnt financially buoyant enough to meet their demands like in the other countries? Who told them our political office holders still manage to get the equivalent of (or more than) what their equals in those other countries earn?
The answer to the questions is obviously what you have done. Fire the resident doctors. But dont stop at that. Fire the consultants, the medical officers and the house officers too. Order state executives to sack those in their employ. You can even fire all medical students. They could have been brainwashed by their seniors. They have drained enough from the pockets of their parents. The government is also wasting scarce funds because they spend ages in medical school, saying they dont want to be half-baked.
Like we told them we need bread! Besides their seniors are always telling them they dont know anything.
Take a nip in the bud before it is too late. Lets go back to those times when there were no doctors.
Tobi Bamigbade
Medicine 600L, OAU
bamitobi@ yahoo.com

Check my signature

''The rest of the populace talking down on doctors are either doing that out of ignorance or jealousy, either way it is not the fault of the doctor. Nobody who has ever trained a doctor will run him down because they have a glimpse of what it takes to be one. JOHESU and their psychological complex.'' Dr C. U

I just found out today, form a professor of orthopaedic surgery that Prof. Chukwu Onyebuchi was one time acting president of NARD, and even led a strike action in 1992.
It's also good to note that the Lagos system they've copied isn't working. Let's hope things get better before its too late.

''It is amazing how easily people quote Hippocratic Oath... An oath they have never seen... Well am still searching for the portion of d oath which says that doctors shud be poorly rewarded and disrespected by the society..., that doctors shud be intimidated and hoodwinked into playing a second fiddle in a sector that belongs to them. Am sure that this oath was not written by a Nigerian, if it were I wud have inferred that the developed countries who reward their doctors well and respect them do not understand the letters of the oath. But since the oath was developed by the west, I can only conclude that we are the ones that don't have an iota of understanding of the oath or maybe we understand but typical of us, we have decided to leave out the aspect that say that doctors shud enjoy life and be respected. Typical of nigeria.''

Dr O. E

twoondei: I just found out today, form a professor of orthopaedic surgery that Prof. Chukwu Onyebuchi was one time acting president of NARD, and even led a strike action in 1992.
It's also good to note that the Lagos system they've copied isn't working. Let's hope things get better before its too late.

It is unimaginable what politics- as it is understood in Nigeria- can do to a man. A man of ambition is capable of anything.

I hope resident doctors have a strong plan B that is quite unshakeable. Your men are at the top with these shiiiiiit happening I wonder what will happen when the reverse will be the case.

Morotov1: I hope resident doctors have a strong plan B that is quite unshakeable. Your men are at the top with these shiiiiiit happening I wonder what will happen when the reverse will be the case.

You have a point, but our men being at the point is an illusion. Everyone at the top in Nigeria is loyal only to the one who put them at the top. The CMDs are political appointees.

''Lord,i will continue to make sacrifices for my patients not because the treat me well(for they have actually hurt us with their words and actions)but because u ask me to treat people better than they treat me''_ Dr C.O.R

its so disheartening wen u hear wat d masses say abt docs, so so disheartening I must confess, once I imagine d kind of stress I went thru in sch, while doing housejob, mhen, u work d hell in hosp, always on ur feet, no rest, 24hrs call for a mth in neurosurgery, so many sacrifices u pay for patients, yet it wont be appreciated, I once had a snr reg in peado who lost her pregnancy due to stresss, yet pp talk bullshit, its unfortunate dt our country is being led by confused and ignorant leaders, and majority of d populace are also either ignorant or jealous.....imagine someone saying resident doctors are student doctors?? just couldn't believe wen I heard dt kind of thing....... docs aren't appreciated in ds country, beta one finds a way forward to greener pastures in anoda land.... GOD BLESS ALL DOCS..... DR Y. O.E......

Dear Doctor

Really? Are the people celebrating your suspension abi na purported sack. Is it that we all have forgotten that medicine remains an apprenticeship. Even our native doctors have understudies, the practice has to be passed on . Without the residency programme, there is no specialisation and no attainment of Consultancy status, the demi-gods, the almost all knowing, those at whose feet we refer those cases that would almost give us, the juniors, traction alopecia from scratching our heads in wonder. These consultants did not fall from the sky unlike Greek mythologies. They were forged in the furnace of residency programme, they learned the ropes, after countless 'I present...', we all now present to them.


How then did the respect for Docs turn to outright disdain, derision, and pungent scorn even emanating from the market places and the keypads of many a Facebook user?

Is it familiarity which they say breeds contempt? Or is it that the Docs have elevated themselves somewhere untouchable that this is the chance for the people to throw not only words at them but also sticks and stones? Or is it simply a lack of understanding of the 'behind the scene' activity of this movie, where FG has become the hero, the PEOPLE the victim, the DOCTORS the BAD. Wicked doctors who failed to call of the strike in the face of the Ebola plague.

Ehe nu, did they not go to mahadum (university), we don't care that there is no running water for basic handwashing, no gloves, hand sanitisers are still Enroute ala-bekee, and for the ones in Naija, last price is 600naira, no 'ikwe-onu', the doctors should do something.

Somehow the doctors have placed themselves where other health workers are blocked out. The Virologists, Pharmacists, Nurses, Biotechnicians....the infection control specialists in well-fitted hazmat suits who should be at the fore, crystalize into the doctor now impaled and burning at stake.

No the people do not understand the 'dress-rehearsals' and 'drama' put up to entertain the teams that accredit our teaching hospitals regularly and seem them fit. I confess, as I recall the 'interior decorations' on the some ward in some hospital , thank Goodness the team did not check if the equipment worked. The docs and FG have danced this macabre dance of deceit and left our crumbling facilities open to public use. When the chips are down and the de-saturating patient gasps for oxygen. The Association of Relatives and 'well wishers' grab the doc and shake them to 'do something'. As the last breath escapes the doc points at the always empty cylinder and mutters 'we did our best'. Then the doc becomes a villain , no longer a magician.

They do not ask about results of the blood tests that were done 72 hours ago. Haba where is the reagent ? No need to do vitals on the deceased the nurse was almost coming to him but only one sphygmomanometer for the ward and her biceps ache from pumping, the mercury sef don vex.

The sad doc takes time off to unwind, and Morpheus follows on the heels of exhaustion, did you say call rooms? Are you a learner? Common put those four chairs in a straight line or use the bench , don't mind the mosquitoes you have barely 30 mins nap,by now you should have active immunity. When nature calls, ignore your anterior and posterior sphincters are cast in iron and where are the toilets, abi you wan get 'gonococcus' as the 'Danfo doctors ' tell us. Abeg oh, I am at risk with my short urethra, nevertheless that female cleaner told ne the other day to come with a bucket of water before she would release the sacred 'toilet key'. She forgets she's paid to work.

Haba doc you guys are magicians still, with little or no diagnostic equipment, the patients still deny symptoms that your sound clinical acumen reveals. They cloud the diagnosis, and when you falter, you are a 'QUACK'. You give of your 'FAT SALARY' in secret to buy drugs, and pay hospital bills for the impoverished WE recuperate and call you evil. Why are you so stingy 'do you have a life?'. You go further and !donate your' blood. After all you feed well, choice dishes unheard of to the Assiciation of Relatives . They all have malaria, hepatitis, some even lie about bening HIV positive, others self-diagnose as 'low-blood'. Your blood has healing powers, and they gather round in awe as it flows out warm and red into the bag, soon to be transfused to the patient after checks of course, adighi amacha. Pay day comes, no pay or short pay or something the FG comes up with, you keep silent .: the vocation is humanitarian.

The female species are a story for another day, hedged in from all sides, the stress alone affecting the ovulatory cycle and many a patient tells her 'you are useless to your family' , 'who washes for your parents, or cooks for them?', . I was told once 'marry a man who cooks well'. I hope that patient reads this letter cos God answered his prayers.

So Doc we've just talked a bit about working life, but you bore a witness to this decay in your university days and kept quiet. You and your bed-mate on a six spring bed, you bought water, a hard decision to make over okpa and kpachacha ji, you studied massive medical texts by candle light, NEPA is no respecter of medical students or 2nd MB. You ran all the way to streets for college bus and the people admired your 'was white' ward coats. You made it to final hostel , bathing early before the toilets filled themselves up, before the pounding started. In all you kept quiet rather singing 'o biara ije g'ana'. Finally on induction day you emerged as the 'nations potential that had bred in the best' beautiful, and resplendent ready for induction .

You took the Hippocratic Oath, as your parents clutched their chest, Papa knew finally he can complete his building in the village, and the dance troup from your community thrilled the Provost et all. You as the first doctor from their village are lifted shoulder high, they fail to see it is a provisional license, you have house-job to do, then residency. Maybe sissy you don't want to marry yet but Mama reminds you aghast that 6years has been a lifetime. Your explanation of residency only makes her glee fall of as she buckles in pain longing for grand-children.Hmmm now you dare go on strike, MBA you are evil.

Was so much emphasis placed on other members of the medical team? You are an ingrate, taa gbafuo nu. You did not tell us this long story since, all this information we are sharing now, Dia ris God oh
Yours Sincerely

Dr O, O S

megaf1: its so disheartening wen u hear wat d masses say abt docs, so so disheartening I must confess, once I imagine d kind of stress I went thru in sch, while doing housejob, mhen, u work d hell in hosp, always on ur feet, no rest, 24hrs call for a mth in neurosurgery, so many sacrifices u pay for patients, yet it wont be appreciated, I once had a snr reg in peado who lost her pregnancy due to stresss, yet pp talk bullshit, its unfortunate dt our country is being led by confused and ignorant leaders, and majority of d populace are also either ignorant or jealous.....imagine someone saying resident doctors are student doctors?? just couldn't believe wen I heard dt kind of thing....... docs aren't appreciated in ds country, beta one finds a way forward to greener pastures in anoda land.... GOD BLESS ALL DOCS..... DR Y. O.E......

My dear, God has already blessed all docs. Sometimes I wonder where all those patients are, those that the doctor paid for their bills or donated their blood to...those people we offered free medical services during World Kidney Days and Malaria Days...those that we gave free drugs too even as med students, after using our pocket monies to fund such students' programme?

with your roots and herbs you have enveloped my frown face with smile, slung to stand,tube tie burned alive, i used your herbs and root according to the instruction given it materialized,i have conceive now,from letter A-z can't speak how joyful i'm. contact him via on facebook (Oduduwa Ajakaye)

This is what I would say to my younger one hoping to study medicine in Nigeria, You are intelligent, with above average IQ. You are about to embark on a on a rigorous journey, longer than your mates in other departments.

You will study for a minimum of 6 years while they study for a maximum of 4/5 years,
your course load would be twice theirs if not more in so little time to achieve this. You will have many sleepless nights and no social life, drink lots of coffee, power horse and redbull. You will pay higher school fees than any other department in your school and carry the heaviest books around like a weight lifter.

After your 6-year study you will have an internship for 1 year, NYSC for another year and you will still have to undergo training for a minimum of 4 and a half year/ 5 years if you want to be a consultant. (6 1 1 5 = 13 years) Already your mates who studied engineering and other disciplines would be well established financially and in managerial positions, while you would be running around the hospital chasing lab results that is supposed to be brought to you in the first place.

You would go through this and you will be paid the PEANUTS which would be augumented with INSULTS and lack of faith in you.

Summarily, You would have the BEST brains, MOST demanding academic curriculum, MOST expensive tuition/ sch fees, spend 13 years (MOST of your youth life) of your life (minimum oh!) studying and Nigerians would want you to earn the SAME as others.

WICKED!!! IS WHAT THEY SUCH PEOPLE ARE! I'm sorry they are not actually wicked they are HEARTLESS, INCONSIDERATE and INSENSITIVE. Note for those who understand English I said "Those people who think that way" and not all Nigerians.

So if you want to save lives please study medicine but do not expect the public would care 1 bit about your welfare. YOU WILL GET NO LOVE! Just treat them and GO TO HELL, who cares, what do you need money for anyway? As long as you save lives, it should fill you belly .

Dr O, N O

Dr U, C O

''By d grace of God, I am a doctor. My parents struggled but were able to pay my fees. I pay my landlord rent even though i did SPC on him during my urology posting. I paid an extra 10,000 to a woman I sectioned for eclampsia just to get power of attorney. my mechanic cheats me cos am a doctor but i delivered his wife n convinced d labor ward nurses to reduce his bill, d many non doctors dt come for "discreet" consultations but are now rejoicing. The society expects me to heal without considering cost but also bills me excessively because am a doctor. So, If you need help medically from ME, you will pay for my services. You pay d pharmacist, lab scientist and even tip d hospital attendant but " my reward is in heaven". Guess what? Heaven can wait.'' Dr A.O

This is also a time for inner reflection of the way we hv treated ourselves and left space for the society,govt to do this to us.

The seniors treat juniors like thrash from day one, will never forget during housejob in UCTH 2009 when a 7 month old pregnant h/o was placed on

paed ward call for a wk plus and was still made to come to work during working hrs, why? they employed few h/o, who r the CMDs? Dr s of course. well

she lost the preg b4 the 2wks elapsed and the HOD a Dr did not as much call her to say sorry when she resumed
Or is it that of passing ur primaries and getting happy that uve started, then battling for another X yrs to pass part 1 or 2., asking urself whether u are this dull, having to graple with other health workers who hv already gone ahead in their studies because
theirs is just to register and present themselves

What about some of the females who sacrifice their reproductive life to train for so long, the society says they are paid to go to sch, well the reply to such application for sponsorship for required workshops is usually that the govt did not give the hosp such money.
This show of unity is laudable,lets keep it up and also work on ourselves

widowhusband: This is also a time for inner reflection of the way we hv treated ourselves and left space for the society,govt to do this to us.

The seniors treat juniors like thrash from day one, will never forget during housejob in UCTH 2009 when a 7 month old pregnant h/o was placed on

paed ward call for a wk plus and was still made to come to work during working hrs, why? they employed few h/o, who r the CMDs? Dr s of course. well

she lost the preg b4 the 2wks elapsed and the HOD a Dr did not as much call her to say sorry when she resumed
Or is it that of passing ur primaries and getting happy that uve started, then battling for another X yrs to pass part 1 or 2., asking urself whether u are this dull, having to graple with other health workers who hv already gone ahead in their studies because
theirs is just to register and present themselves

What about some of the females who sacrifice their reproductive life to train for so long, the society says they are paid to go to sch, well the reply to such application for sponsorship for required workshops is usually that the govt did not give the hosp such money.
This show of unity is laudable,lets keep it up and also work on ourselves

What you have written is correct. They say the night is darkest just before the dawn. I believe even the issues you have raised will also minimise after all of this

I have been reading my News Feed with very keen interest the last few days.
The truth is, even if GEJ ends up recalling the sacked Resident Doctors, whatever was left of the chord between Doctors and the masses has been finally broken. The mass euphoria that greeted the sack was not surprising, but only goes to confirm the level of ignorance and Double Standards Nigerians live daily.

When Lecturers go on strike, the masses blame Government, when Tanker Drivers go on strike, Government is blamed, when even the Police went on strike during OBJ's era, the Government was blamed. But somehow, the Doctors are mysteriously at fault when its their turn:
1. Nobody asks about how it is that the Government breaches agreements from year to year, agreements of which salary IS JUST ONE COMPONENT. The same Government that makes the promise breaches the same EFFORTLESSLY and waits for the last day of a strike action notice to re-commence negotiations over the same issue.

2. Nobody asks about how it is that a Doctor's hazard allowance is 5,000 naira monthly (at the risk of contacting, HIV, Ebola, Hepatitis, Yellow Fever and all other deadly diseases), while a Senator/HOR member takes several times that amount for entertainment allowance.

3. Nobody looks at how facilities within the Hospitals severely undermine the capacity for the Nigerian Doctor (and other health care Professionals) to be efficient, part of the reasons for which they go on strike.

Yet, at the commencement of each strike, the reflex action is to vilify them. People have severally talked about the Hippocratic oath. I say to you, if you cannot read the whole document......,you deserve pity, for you do not know who is actually killing you.

For those who say Essential Services cannot go on strike, please HIDE YOUR IGNORANCE. I will give you instances where Doctors have gone on strike, even in saner societies. The records are verifiable. (please note that while I am talking about Doctors, other emergency services like the Police and Fire-service are also recorded to have gone on strike in Brazil and UK respectively)
1.The United Kingdom where I work has one of the most stringent rules concerning strike action, yet there is no law banning any group from striking. Even Doctors. And you know what? Doctors went on strike in 2012!!.
2.When I worked in the Carribean, Doctors went on strike in 2010!!
3. Even while Isreal was bombarding Gaza, ISREALI DOCTORS WERE ON STRIKE.
Now, where did the UK and Trinidad Government differ from their Nigerian counter-parts?
1. The Governments acted swiftly and decisively. They did not wait for the strikes to linger before a pot-bellied minister comes and lazily addresses a press conference that negotiations have begun.
2. The Governments HONOURED their agreements.
3. NOBODY ever dreamt of sacking them en masse. Of course the issue should not even arise when agreements have not even been honoured.

I am not saying you must understand the technicalities of the medical field to appreciate the stance of Nigerian Doctors, you do not have to. Its all COMMON SENSE, but I have become increasingly aware that even common sense is not that common.

Anyway, this is just for the records. The rubicon has somewhat been crossed. I would not advocate any revenge or vindictiveness on the populace, but I think its high time the relationship be properly defined.

Within the context of appropriately caring for the patient, it should be quid pro quo.
The greatest emotion should be empathy, not sympathy. It should be Professional and Impersonal, not Informal and Personal. Where finances are involved, its either you have your money or go to Government to heal you. I went through great lengths for my training which my parents paid for (it was not free). I spent over 6 years in University while most others spent 4, with a few spending 5.
My counter-parts abroad who obtained loans to train are still paying off their loans years after graduation. Even after graduating, I will spend years training myself to become a specialist. If we were to go by your principles that those in these categories are students and should not be paid, then a Doctor would be well over 40 years (or 45 depending on the specialty) before he earns his first salary, but I know common sense is not common.

When I go to you for services, you even jack up your fees because I am a Doctor. I have other bills to pay (They do not disappear you know). I also have mouths to feed. Sometimes, I am the SOLE BREAD-WINNER. I went to study medicine to help humanity, but like everyone else, to be able to make a decent living.
So, my friend, you are free to rejoice that they have been sacked. But be ready to appropriately share the burden of an irresponsible government. The Doctors have borne it for so long.

Records show Doctors never striked in the past, other bodies did it for them, then they started when it was obvious other bodies had their problems and Governments were not listening, but then they still kept emergency services open, now they are so hardened some can even walk away from emergency posts during a strike, and you still cannot smell the coffee? SORRY.
~ Obinna Aligwekwe

what happened to this thread. hm