Scientist decries high cost of living, calls on leaders for action
A medical imaging scientist, Dr. Livinus Abonyi, has decried the high cost of living, calling on Nigerian leaders to take action in order to win the trust of citizens.
Abonyi, Head, Department of Medical Radiography, Faculty of Clinical Sciences at the University of Lagos, College of Medicine, made the call in an interview with the newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.
According to him, leaders of governments at all levels in Nigeria need to win the trust of their citizens through their actions and not through talks.
He said that leaders should be patriotic and lead by example, saying that deceit should cease to be the stock in trade of Nigerian leadership as it weakens patriotism and promotes disloyalty.
Abonyi called on the Federal Government to tackle all forms of poverty and hunger with greater vigour in order to reduce the burden of ill health in the country.
He said that poverty contributes to ill health, which in turn aggravates the level of poverty.
According to him, such a trend ends up having adverse effects on the country’s health indices.
“Living in poverty and hunger can have a devastating effect on health, and poor health leads to poverty.
“An unsettled and anxious mind is an incubator for diseases; these range from peptic ulcers, hypertension, and depression to total mental breakdown.
“These diseases are now very endemic in our environment. The collapse of the exchange rate has skyrocketed the cost of living, particularly Medicare, to its highest level in recent times.
“Vital areas that are slipping out of the hands of ordinary citizens include the cost of diagnostic procedures, drugs, and treatment.
“The rates of premature and untimely deaths are therefore on the increase; life is becoming meaningless,” Abonyi lamented.
The scientist explained that the causes of poor health for millions globally were rooted in political, social, and economic injustice, saying that poverty was both a cause and a consequence of poor health.
He added that poverty increases the chances of poor health, and poor health, in turn, traps communities in poverty.
According to him, the current Nigerian economic hardship is a consequence of leadership failure characterised by impunity, disdain for rule of law and lack of love for humanity.
“The effects of all these are responsible for the current scramble for the soul of Nigerians without iotas of patriotism or regard for the collective good of the citizens.
“If our leaders are patriotic, there won’t be insecurity all over the country, hateful rivalry or promotion of ethnicity and religion as yardstick for decision making and formulation of policies,” he said.
Abonyi said that tackling the structural causes of poverty, hunger and poor health, as well as adopting measures to tackle inequality and injustice, were central to what is needed from the government.
According to him, for our economy to be more vibrant, we need to pay more attention to the health and welfare of the population and of course the health sector.
“As we all know, the health of a nation is its wealth.
“Reducing poverty, improving nutrition, and making sure people have access to quality and affordable living standards, as well as strengthening national health systems, are of utmost importance.
“Otherwise, tackling one particular threat simply leaves people open to another deadly disease soon afterwards,’’ Abonyi said.
