The global trade union federation, Public Services International (PSI), along with two of its Nigerian affiliates, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), have condemned attacks on health and social care workers in northeast part of the country by the Boko Haram terrorists.She said the federal government needs to do more to protect the lives of health workers who risk their lives for societal good.
“We urge security agencies to review their strategy with increased surveillance and prompt apprehension of suspects with full respect to international human rights norms and standards,” the statement read.
The statement reads further, “We are deeply concerned that these recent upsurges in mayhem have targeted harmless and defenseless social service providers. Recent statistics by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) revealed that over 37 aid workers have lost their lives to terrorism over the last decade in Nigeria.
“PSI unreservedly condemns all attacks on health and social care workers in conflict zones, whose sole aim is to provide care, treatment and comfort to the sick, injured and the dying. Terrorist attacks deprive populations of access to healthcare because facilities are closed, infrastructure is damaged, and healthcare providers have to withdraw their staff in the event of attacks.”
“These attacks also impede attempts to tackle outbreaks of diseases, vaccination programs, and emergency situations (like flooding which is currently ravaging the state).”
Source: Leadership
