Covid-19: RULAAC decries ‘conscription’ of NYSC members to Asaba centre

Stanley Ihedigbo

Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), has frowned at allegedly conscription of National Youth Service Crop (NYSC) members to Covid-19 centre at Asaba Specialist hospital.

In the statement to Nation Update, Executive Director, RULAAC, Comrade Okechukwu Nwanguma, said his attention was drawn to a situation at Asaba Specialist Hospital where the Covid-19 isolation centre is being set up and doctors , other health personnel are asked to volunteer to work at the centre.

Nwanguma

“Very few health personnel indicated interest. However, a list was released including personnel who did not volunteer. They include NYSC doctors , Pharmacists and nurses who complain that they do not have the facilities for protection and poor remuneration.

“They NYSC members said they were conscripted and sent on a mission where there hearts are not. There’s a problem when people are forced to work against their will. It will be counterproductive.

“I’m told that the hospital has over 50 consultants. Only about 3 doctors volunteered. They now conscripted the young NYSC doctors and Pharmacists into the team. Meanwhile, they say that from inception of their service, the hospital authorities have not been paying the NYSC doctors any stipends. They live on the NYSC allowance, and depend on their parents to augment their poor income.

“They should not conscript anyone who did not volunteer for the delicate assignment’,. Some one has describes it as ‘sending young inexperienced NYSC doctors on a suicide mission’. Where are the big Consultants, virologists, and other experienced medical personnel that make the hospital thick? Why should they be allowed to opt out only for Delta State Government to sacrifice the poor young NYSC doctors by conscripting them against their will? This is unfair,” he submitted.