Ondo NUJ Calls for State of Emergency in Healthcare Sector

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ondo State Council, has raised serious concerns over the deteriorating state of healthcare facilities in the state, urging Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to declare a state of emergency in the sector.

In a statement issued after its monthly congress, chaired by Leke Adegbite, the union highlighted the alarming decline in infrastructure at government-owned hospitals and called for urgent intervention.

The NUJ urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to pay unscheduled visits to state-owned medical institutions to assess the true state of the healthcare system firsthand.

“Patients are experiencing significant trauma due to the poor state of medical facilities, and immediate action is needed to provide quality and affordable healthcare services,” the statement emphasized.

A key concern raised by the union was the location of a casket shop within the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Akure Annex. The mortuary’s proximity to the Outpatient Department (OPD) and Emergency Unit was described as psychologically distressing for patients and their families.

“The public sale of coffins on hospital premises is insensitive and must be stopped immediately. The casket shop should be relocated to a more appropriate location,” the NUJ demanded.

The NUJ reiterated that Ondo’s healthcare system is in crisis and requires immediate government intervention to prevent further decline. The union stressed that the well-being of patients must be prioritized, and the health sector must be restored to ensure better service delivery.

Governor Aiyedatiwa is now under pressure to take decisive action to revamp the ailing healthcare sector and address the urgent concerns raised by the NUJ.