By Angela Atabo
Most Rev’d Henry Ndukuba, Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has condemned negligence and declining ethical standards in the nation’s hospitals.
Ndukuba called for a paradigm shift in healthcare delivery by prioritising human dignity, life-saving innovation and equitable access to quality medical services.
He made the call in Abuja at a Health Summit organided by the Health and Medical Taskforce of the Church.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the summit is themed, “Health Prosperity for All: Getting Things Done Rightly”
“In more recent times, corruption, negligence, concern for more material possession and mediocrity has crept into our healthcare system like many other professions.
“The once noble image of the medical profession has been marred by false diagnoses, extortionate billing, counterfeit drugs, lack of accountability, and poor patient care.
“Some Nigerian hospitals, private and public, have become places where people die, not because of a lack of medical knowledge, but due to a lack of compassion and ethics.
“In some cases, critical and emergency patients who need a simple life-saving intervention are abandoned and made to pay before they are treated, violating both the Hippocratic oath and the law of Christ,” he said.
Ndukuba said the summit was organised as rescue mission and would become a divinely guided agent of paradigm shift in healthcare delivery in the country.
He noted that, in spite of the challenges, Nigerian health and medical practitioners are some of the best in the world, blazing the trail in many developed countries.
To get things done rightly, therefore, the Primate underscored the need to restore trust in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He also stressed the need for churches and other religious based organisations to see healthcare as their mission field.
The Primate said the Anglican Church has played a key role in the healthcare sector of Nigeria from inception.
He encouraged churches, not to only complement the efforts of the government, but serve as the alternative of the best for the people.
According to him, parishes, dioceses, and provinces must establish, administer, and strengthen healthcare facilities and medical missions.
He added that there is the need to explore the training of health professionals, pharmaceutical production, and research laboratories.
Ndukuba assured that the Church of Nigeria would explore healing and healthcare as a tool for evangelism and mission.
He disclosed that plans were underway for the establishment of the Church of Nigeria Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) and Health Professionals Guild.
He urged the medical practitioners to stand firm in truth and excellence by establishing accountability structures in their health facilities and mentor young practitioners in godliness.
The Chairperson at the event, Dr Amal Pepple, said Nigeria faced numerous social development issues, including lack of affordable, equitable, efficient, and accessible healthcare.
Pepple underscored the need for the government to partner more closely with the church in addressing the challenges. (NAN)
