By Timothy Oyomare
The public has been alerted of the deteriorating facilities in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) which pose serious health concerns to patients.
“The hospital has only one functional ultrasound machine and one defibrillator which exist only on display. In addition to this, the workers are demoralized as they have no equipment to work with.” Besides, “Sometimes, patients are asked to pay N50,000 as a deposit for treatment, a situation that has already condemned them to death,”
These allegations were made by the Joint Action Front (JAF) under the Chairmanship of Dr. Dipo Fasina, who called on the health authorities to stop victimisation of doctors and health workers, advising Nigerians to resist the wicked and inhuman policies.
In the same vein, the Secretary of the pro-labour group, Comrade Abiodun Aremu, also criticized the LUTH’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Chris Bode, for being insensitive to the workers’ plight, saying the teaching hospital had become a “go-and-die place”.
“The teaching hospital is being systematically privatized and treatment is given to only those who can afford to pay exorbitant fees,” Aremu said.
The workers alleged that the current state of the hospital is not safe for patients and the situation is caused by the alleged irresponsible management at the teaching hospital.
LUTH, was once the pride and flagship in healthcare delivery system in the country, but according to the workers, the hospital is living on past glory. The teaching hospital established in 1962 and is affiliated with the University of Lagos College of Medicine.