Human Rights Volunteer Corps, a rights group, has urged Federal and State Governments to take steps toward tackling extreme poverty prevalent in the country.
Executive Director of the group, Mr Larry Oguego, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Friday, that it was the right of every Nigerian to live above lack, disease and poverty.
He said that it was worrisome that most Nigerians could not afford basic things of life, including food, healthcare and shelter.
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Oguego said that due to lack and poverty, poor Nigerians suffered a lot, and at times paid more to get on with living.
According to him, it is very expensive to be poor in the country.
“It is the poor people who stay or live furthest from the town and therefore, have to spend more money on transport to come and work for the rich politicians or in offices in towns.
“It is the poor people who use kerosene lamps and firewood, because of the refusal of the rich politicians to install electricity for the poor people.
“It is the poor people who have no public hospitals to attend and are therefore exposed to exorbitant charges by private doctors.
“It is the poor who use un-tarred roads and have to walk long distances and get exposed to a lot of respiratory health hazards,’’ he said.
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The rights activist said that various poverty-induced daily stress and difficulties that poor people passed through often led to health challenges for them, causing early death in some cases.
“We do not respect international best practices in managing medical emergencies for all, especially in having universal health coverage for all Nigerians.
“Emergency numbers do not exist or do not work and ambulance services do not exist,’’ he said.
The activist said that access to healthcare was one of the alienable rights of every human. (NAN)
