When Ndidi Chukwu’s conniving friends threw her a surprise baby shower, she threw the surprise right back—at Nigeria.
The heavily pregnant Chukwu on maternity leave and ready to give birth any moment took the country up on incessant strikes by health workers.
In a protest placard held against her baby bump, she said, "No health workers. No baby."
A communications officer with Community Health and Research Initiative, she’s given talks about healthcare, immunisation and the need for skilled birth attendants.
Now she faces the possibility of walking into a public hospital to give birth when entire nursing, pharmacy, midwifery and laboratory staff is on strike or choosing a private hospital.
"While government officials jet out of the country at the slightest excuse to receive treatment outside the shores of the country, the average citizen cannot afford the remuneration to access medical care," she said.
The strike by teams of health workers came after resident doctors suspended theirs which is up for review shortly.
"Government should have a roundtable meeting with both resident doctors and other health workers and reach an agreement on how to manage the workforce effectively," said Chukwu.
“As a prospective mother, we need to improve the future of the vulnerable children. A lot of funding is allocated to health through the budget. We need to obtain better results than what we have on ground."
