SURVIVING THE SYSTEM

Sadly, Nigeria leaders have been known for making bad decisions or choices when it comes to some aspects of their citizen’s welfare. In today’s post, I’ll focus more on the aspect of our health and possibly other things around it in response to the hivelearners topic which asks us to share our thoughts on DOCTORS ON STRIKE. I remember when I was still much younger, I doubted that doctors would ever go on strike no matter what, unlike teachers but I was wrong. Then, I saw the work of being a doctor as a selfless profession hence, salaries shouldn’t stop them from working, it all depends on when duty calls.

I grew up and I started seeing the reality of everything and I was a bit sad because I have seen a lot of persons go into that profession because they want to be rich or they think they should be rich if they attain that degree. Well, I know they are humans too and they will have to survive and take care of their families but somehow, I just still felt sad that doctors go on strike. I know there are good doctors out there but the system keeps getting wacky by the day and that’s because people see the profession as a way to make money first before seeing it as a way to save lives. I always admire those real doctors when I see one.

Particularly, here in my country, if an individual chooses to become a doctor, they already know about how poorly doctors are paid so it’s obvious that majority of them either wants to really just save lives or they have plans of moving out of the country to work. And since we all know that it’s not so easy to just leave the country these days, as they practice their jobs here in Nigeria, the poor pay keeps hitting hard on them and they feel drained mentally because they had higher hopes and now they have little or nothing to show for it. They can hardly have a good savings and that’s demoralizing for them (very justifiable). The government as I read, are not even paying them up to the 10% of national fund that was allocated to them.

Because of that, these doctors once in a while chooses to go on strike for some days and weeks to see if the government will do more for them but at the expense of people’s lives. Well, I guess that’s also why they picked up this method too because if the government cares about its citizens, they will want to act as quick as possible. But we all know that the government cares little or nothing about its citizens. What matters more to them is the revenue they can accumulate for themselves. So in this situation, lives are placed on a bet.

Going on a strike, for me, it won’t change anything because we now have private sectors. If the government sectors stop working because the government are not paying them well enough, it will even give the private sectors more opportunities to grow. The only people that are affected at this point are the destitute ones. Those who can barely afford a decent meal. I know my idea about how doctors should work is a fantasy but I believe that would have saved us a lot of drama. Doctors forget that they serve humanity and not the government. Well, like I said, some people just go into the field just for the benefits they think are in it, others because they were compared to, while few, because they want to truly serve.

I doubt strike will fix the problem. We will only put more lives in danger. I think it’s time doctors work towards standing on their own and not relying on the government for anything. There are people out there who are willing to support such ideas but sadly, I guess they are too scared to do so because no one might support or they just don’t know that they serve humanity and the one that has made us (God) and not the government. Yes, I know a lot of doctors or those who are close to one might think I’m saying all of these because I’m not in there shoes and that’s true. I knew most of these and I know I wasn’t up for the job.

Thank you for reading through. ❤️