How health workers’ strike caused my blindness – Accident victim
A visually impaired student of Yaba College of Technology, Temitope Ayeni, has narrated how he lost his sight after a ghastly motor accident on November 23, 2013, in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
The 39-year-old native of Akure in Ondo State said the incident happened during a nationwide strike by medical workers which resulted in delayed access to medical treatment.
Speaking in an interview with PUNCH Metro on Friday, Ayeni said aside from the injuries he sustained during the accident, the delay in accessing medical care resulted in an infection that compromised his sight.
He said, “I lost my eyesight in a ghastly motor accident on November 23, 2013, in Calabar while working as a customer service engineer in an organisation that deals with installation and repair of Automated Teller Machines.
“The accident affected the upper area of my head down to the jaw. In fact, the jaw could have been salvaged but the health workers’ strike at that time made things very bad. I did not receive prompt medical care. I was later taken to Lagos, precisely the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.”
“In LUTH, l was told that due to the late attention at Calabar, an infection had occurred, affecting both eyes. As it is now, I need a medical attention on the jaw and teeth.”
Ayeni, who currently volunteers by teaching visually impaired students in private and public schools about computer use, also did audio productions for radio stations.
Having obtained an ordinary diploma in electrical electronics from YABATECH, Ayeni revealed that he was already running his Higher Diploma programme when the accident occurred.
While speaking on what next he was up to, he said, “I would like to go back to school for more studies. I also need help for surgical operations in any reputable hospital.”
Ayeni, who seeks financial support, said he had so far been assisted by some religious leaders.
“So far and sometime ago, one of my senior pastors, Ayoola Adeyanju, paid my tuition while I was at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria training school on digital studio analysis. Recently, another Redeemed Christian Church of God minister, Pastor Oladipupo, helped me to organise a modern laptop to aid my work, not forgetting some care from Pastor Onasola, who is my direct pastor. But, I need more help from well-meaning Nigerians.”
PUNCH had reported that medical services were, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, paralysed in government hospitals across the country as the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors embarked on its indefinite strike.
While consultant medical and dental doctors, nurses, and other health workers were offering health services to cushion the effect of the strike, patients lamented the delay in accessing care in the hospitals. Some patients were discharged to seek health care in other health facilities.
NARD declared an indefinite strike following the failure of the Federal Government to meet its demands.
