On Monday, the horrific murder of more than 200 people in Benue State was lamented by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The horrific murders of scores of civilians have sparked widespread indignation throughout the nation.
The murder of Matthew Lormba, a young chemist with great potential, was denounced by NARD as a tragic example of how health workers have become a threatened species in Nigeria and the state in particular.
In a statement, Dr. Osundara Tope, President of the NARD, expressed the association’s stance. In sections, it states:
There has been disturbing and condemnable bloodshed in Yelwata, Benue State, which has claimed the lives of more than 200 individuals. The health care system in Benue State is already struggling under the strain of the ongoing bloodletting.
As the number of casualties continues to rise, health care providers may be unable to handle a humanitarian catastrophe or epidemic. Regrettably, it seems that the government lacks the resources necessary to safeguard lives and property.
Every level of government, from the federal to the state, has an inherent responsibility to safeguard the right to life.
Due to the regrettable involvement of certain health workers in the crisis, the state’s health work force has been decimated as a result of the violence.
Health care providers are becoming a rare and endangered species in Nigeria, and the tragic death of young chemist Matthew Lormba serves as a sobering reminder of this.
A number of our members have expressed concerns about their safety since the brutal attack. Their motivation to work in some areas is suffering as a result of their growing anxiety.
For people living in neglected areas in particular, it is extremely worrisome because it runs counter to the idea of universal health coverage.
The absence of health workers caused by security concerns has further reduced access to primary health care.
It is concerning that doctors’ capacity to deliver necessary care is being compromised by burnout and mental health difficulties.
Children in our country are at danger of malnutrition due to a drop in output, a scarcity of food supply, and rising food prices, all of which are caused by this attack on our food production.
The current spate of killings and other acts of violence in Nigeria’s dangerous regions of Zamfara and Kastina has also earned our deepest disapproval.
In the last two years, more than 10,000 have lost their lives throughout Nigeria. Many people have lost their jobs as a result, and the number of displaced children and those who are not in school has grown.
So, it’s time for the government to get off its slumber and put in place practical security measures to stop the attacks from getting worse, particularly in Nigeria’s northeast and north central regions.
In order to prevent an impending catastrophe, the nation-wide bloodshed must be stopped immediately.
The increasing violence and conflicts in Nigeria are causing a rise in death rates, and the government needs to find a way to stop it.