'Doctors are like gods. Can God go on strike?'

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has decried the industrial action embarked upon by health practitioners.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony at the Lagos State College of Health Technology in Yaba on Thursday, Fashola said, “Health workers, from the lowest to the highest, are like gods on earth. If you have not been ill before, you will not understand their importance. I have been ill, so I know what I am talking about.”

“Health practice is a call to service, service to God and the community. If you are like gods on earth, why then should you go on strike? Imagine if God goes on strike. Imagine if the police, military or fire service should go on strike.

“Take the police for example – it is not as if all is well with them. You (the graduates) must make a choice between self and saving lives. You should endeavour to put your patients, whose life you are supposed to save, into consideration.”

Punch reports the College graduated a total of 265 students from five schools namely, Environmental Health, Community Health, Medical Laboratory Technician, Pharmacy Technician and Health Information Management.

The graduands are for the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 academic sessions.

The Governor is said to have given automatic employment to 200 graduates.