More patients have continued to complain of contacting diseases from medications administered on them at health centres. They suspected the syringes used to inject the medication on them. This has created apathy among patients who now decline submitting themselves gladly to any medication that involves the use of syringes.

This practice is perpetrated by medical officers who knew the implication of what they are doing but are determined to cut corners at the detriment of the health of the people. It is also common practice in government owned health centres and privately run centres alike. Thus leaving the people, especially the sick, who are the most vulnerable people to an ugly dilemma.

Now most of the patients prefer tablets they can swallow. Making the education that should available and toughness of the will on the part of the patient to resist the doctor’s prescription still a far cry. Much like the expected response to acquire the now available alternative of auto-disposable syringes is wrapped in a very strenuous condition.

These new types of syringes are self destructive upon usage. They do not stay a minute longer after use so that there will not be any need by any medication officer to use it on another unsuspecting patient. The syringes are presently under the control of the Ministry of Health of the Rivers State Government.

Dr. Owhunda Ake said though the whole purchase made by the government is commendable, the condition set out may not encourage a quick circulation of the syringes on the counters at the health centres. He said the syringes are only accessible to only registered medical practitioners instead of making it available to all medical stores for easy purchase. And health centres and most practitioners do not come easily to meet the criteria required to be a certified to access those syringes.

He also said the syringes are also scarce in the government health centres. Those are places the ministry would have enforced the wholesome use of the syringe. He also faulted the commissioner for health Dr. Samson Parker on the fact it should be the patient who should insist that the auto-disposable syringes be used on him or her. He queried that should the patient be so feeble to decide on what should be done on him, what happens?

But Dr. Parker said the scheme is new and a response to the growing needles transmission of diseases through syringes. He said with the steady effort by the ministry an hundred percent distribution of the syringe to all government health centres in the state will be achieved and appealed to the people to also take their health seriously by insisting to inject with the auto-disposable syringe.