U.S-based Nigerian doctor, Dr Erina Imasogie, has said that health workers, including doctors and nurses, are the worst patients because they often sacrifice for others while neglecting their own health.
Imasogie made the assertion during a medical outreach held on Saturday in Lagos.
The outreach was organised by Erina Help and Care Foundation in collaboration with the Love of God in Christ Church (LOGIC), Lekki.
The doctor said that doctors could attend to patients for long hours without realising it.
Erina said: “That is something that I, personally, am still working on; but a couple years ago, I had a health condition and I was still working and ignoring it.
“It went on, until I had another colleague who had to come to me and say the way I was looking was not good and advised me to take care of my health.
“This is what goes on with many doctors who attend to patients; they sacrifice but ignore their own health.
“It is high time doctors, nurses, all health personnel prioritised their health.”
She said the outreach was part of activities to mark four years of Erina Help and Care Foundation.
According to her, the foundation is borne out of the need to provide care for vulnerable people.
“This is a cause that is so dear to my heart, more primarily because my background is in health care for the past 15 plus years, specifically critical care.
“Also, one of the things I have seen is just the disservice of people just not knowing what is going on with their bodies.
“So, in the last couple of years I have had a greater passion toward wellness and empowerment.
“And one of the biggest pillars with Rina Health and Care Foundation is to impact lives by empowering people, “ she said.
Also, LOGIC church resident Pastor Philip Yahweh said regular medical check-up was necessary to stay healthy.
Yahweh likened the body to other machines and cars that needed regular servicing to function optimally.
“So, it is very expedient that these things are done and that is why the LOGIC church has taught it necessary, as a kind of corporate social responsibility, to collaborate with Dr Erina to put up the outreach.
“It is an opportunity to help. In a way, we are supporting government to make life better for people. Our slogan in the logic church is ”Love, Life, Impact.
“So, we are trying to make sure we dispense the life of Christ that we have; show love to people horizontally, as we have received love vertically from God our saviour through Christ and to just impact people’s lives, “ he said.
A beneficiary, Ms Yetunde Balogun, said that health was a priority and urged people not to wait until a condition got worse before they visited the hospital.
Balogun said that she prioritised her health, hence, the reason she participated in the outreach.
“It is always better to check early because there are some medical conditions that require early detection to prevent complications later on, “ she said.
