An Ebonyi State–born disc jockey based in Anambra State, Andrew Chukwuleta Okemiri, has appealed to the Federal Government, the Minister of Health, and state health commissioners to urgently intervene in the ongoing doctors’ strike, warning that the industrial action is worsening the condition of patients who depend on uninterrupted medical care.
Okemiri, who is living with a spinal cord injury, made the appeal through a letter addressed to relevant health authorities, calling for immediate dialogue with striking doctors to restore healthcare services nationwide.
He explained that patients with spinal cord injuries require regular physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and close medical supervision to prevent complications and preserve mobility, stressing that the prolonged strike has disrupted essential treatment for many vulnerable Nigerians.
According to him, his financial situation makes it impossible to access the advanced medical treatment abroad earlier recommended by specialists, leaving local physiotherapy as his only viable option while awaiting possible assistance.
The DJ expressed deep concern that the suspension of hospital services has forced many patients to abandon rehabilitation and other life-saving treatments.
Recounting his experience, Okemiri said he sustained a severe spinal injury on December 4, 2020, following an attack by unknown assailants while returning from work with a friend. The incident reportedly left him paralyzed from the waist down.
Since the injury, he has received treatment at several medical facilities, including Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Memfys Hospital, Enugu, St. Joseph Hospital, Adazi Nnukwu, and most recently the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA). However, he disclosed that he has not accessed treatment at AE-FUTHA since December 2025 due to the prolonged doctors’ strike.
Okemiri lamented that the continued disruption of healthcare services has compounded the struggles of patients with chronic and life-threatening conditions, adding that financial hardship has further slowed his recovery.
He revealed that specialists estimated the cost of further treatment abroad at about ₦4.5 million, a sum he described as far beyond his means.
Beyond his personal ordeal, the DJ noted that many Nigerians are silently enduring pain and deterioration due to restricted access to hospitals during the strike. He urged authorities to prioritize negotiations with the striking doctors and implement safeguards to protect patients whose lives depend on continuous medical attention.
While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Health for ongoing efforts to improve Nigeria’s healthcare system, Okemiri called for urgent action to end the strike and restore normal hospital services.
He also praised Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, for his commitment to healthcare and citizens’ welfare, and appealed to well-meaning Nigerians, organizations, and stakeholders to support spinal cord injury patients facing hardship amid the current healthcare crisis.
Stay updated with Ebonyi News Network for real-time reports, in-depth analysis, and exclusive coverage of policies shaping Ebonyi State.
