THE IMPACT OF CHANGING HEALTH POLICY ON NIGERIAN WORKERS: A CASE STUDY OF KADUNA METROPOLIS

THE IMPACT OF CHANGING HEALTH POLICY ON NIGERIAN WORKERS: A CASE STUDY OF KADUNA METROPOLIS

Abstract:

This study sets to find out how the changing health policies in Nigeria affect the state of health of public servants as it relates to medical services and living conditions such as housing, feeding patterns and general welfare. It documents strategies devised by the public servants for coping with the adverse consequences of changes in the health policies and assesses the adequacy of measures taken by the government to ameliorate them. The position of this study is that the capitalist nature of the Nigerian economy is reflected in the distribution of health services and the living conditions of various classes of workers in the public service. A quota sample of 245 respondents from federal, state, and local government establishments in Kaduna metropolis responded to a questionnaire on how the removal of free medical care for public servants have affected them and how their families live and feed under SAP. Individual interviews and group discussions were employed to complement the survey data. Frequency distribution and chi-square tests were used for data analysis. The findings revealed that following the withdrawal of free medical services, the cost of modern medical services went beyond the reach of most public servants. To meet their health needs, most public servants, resorted to seeking alternative means of treatment like the utilization of faith healing through prayers (54.1 per cent), traditional medicine and spiritual healing homes (26.1 per cent) and self-medication in various forms (12.6 per cent). As regards housing 103 ( 60.0 per cent) said the prices of their rented houses were raised beyond what they could afford. They went to live in substandard cheaper houses in less sanitary environments with their attendant health hazards and physical insecurity. They complained that the rent subsidy given to them was too meager to secure any decent accommodation. The findings also revealed that 134 (65.9 per sent ) of the public servants’ food intakes consists mainly of carbohydrates with very limited protein and mineral contents. Furthermore, most of the public servants’ families have only one or two meals a day because they cannot afford three meals. From the aggregate of the findings, it is revealed that the changing health and economic policies in Nigeria have had a significant negative impact on Public Servants’ state of health and living conditions. Government measures like the introduction of meal subsidy and review of salaries and some allowances, have not adequately addressed these issues, thus compounding the workers’ plight. It is observed that the labour power of workers sustains the country and the Government should ensure that the health and welfare of its workers be adequately provided for. It is therefore recommended that government should rescind its decision on the withdrawal of free medical treatment for public servants, and provide adequate subsidies for housing facilities, feeding, transportation and other welfare needs of the public servants.

THE IMPACT OF CHANGING HEALTH POLICY ON NIGERIAN WORKERS: A CASE STUDY OF KADUNA METROPOLIS

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