Natasha seeks better pay, welfare for doctors, nurses

Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has urged for better working conditions, pay and welfare benefits for healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, midwives and others, to encourage them to continue serving, especially in rural areas. During a "Unfinished" event organized by Ward-C and the National Human Rights Commission, she participated in discussions on maternal health, women's rights and reproductive choices.

Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that addressing Nigeria's high maternal mortality rates required considering the conditions healthcare workers face in providing care. She stated that healthcare workers, particularly in underserved areas, needed a supportive environment to perform their duties effectively. Better welfare for medical professionals should be a key component in strengthening the country's healthcare system, Akpoti-Uduaghan said.

The senator proposed an all-encompassing approach to healthcare, highlighting the importance of medical personnel, infrastructure, emergency services, equipment, medicines, and professional development. She argued that improving conditions for healthcare workers would motivate them to remain committed to their responsibilities, particularly in rural settings where they often face challenging circumstances.

Akpoti-Uduaghan pointed out that many rural health facilities lack the necessary personnel and equipment to handle complicated pregnancies and neonatal emergencies. She questioned whether these facilities had the resources needed to manage such situations, especially when considering the reliability of electricity in rural areas.

The senator highlighted that providing equipment alone would not solve the problem; qualified personnel were also required to operate and use the equipment appropriately. She called for stronger referral systems connecting rural primary healthcare centers with general and specialist hospitals, particularly for women with complicated pregnancies and emergencies.

Discussing maternal mortality, Akpoti-Uduaghan expressed concern about the accuracy of official figures, suggesting they might not fully reflect the situation in rural communities. She emphasized the need for practical interventions to complement policy discussions on maternal health and advocated for support systems to provide women facing challenging pregnancy-related circumstances with information, counseling, and appropriate assistance.