Textile union laments crisis in health sector

National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, has said warned that Nigeria cannot resolve health sector’s challenges particularly the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, if she continues to have crisis in the sector.

In a statement by the union, it commended the resolution that made the doctors to suspend their 55 days old strike, noting that “Government itself must provide health workers with the necessary tools including insurance covers to deal with the latest menace of Ebola.

Above all, both the doctors and the government must be tempered by the miserable Nigeria’s health numbers.

They include the following;

Even without Ebola Life expectancy at birth was estimated at 43.3 years for Nigeria compared to 56.7 years for Ghana and 49 years for South Africa. Infant mortality rate was estimated at 98 per 1000 live births for Nigeria. In Ghana and South Africa, the comparative figures were 59 and 53.

“Under five mortality rate per 1000 live births stood at 265 in Nigeria compared to 186 for Ghana in 2003. The probability at birth of surviving to age 55 for females in Ghana (52.9 percent) was almost twice that of Nigeria (33.2 percent).

The maternal mortality ratio (adjusted) per 100,000 live births in Nigeria was 800. The corresponding figures for Ghana and South Africa were 540 and 240. By 2003, the maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria had risen to 948/100,000. Indeed, with a range of 339/100,000 to 1.716/100,000) Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate is considered to be ‘one of the highest in the world’ (Federal Ministry of Health Sector Reform Programme).

Vanguard