By Chinedu Nwaneri
Nigeria as a developing nation is expected to maintain an all-round growth in every sector of its economy, most especially the health sector which seeks to maintain and preserve human life. This growth is most essential to make life worth living for her citizens, and attract patronage from foreigners and consequently generate revenue.
However, the incessant travelling by top government officials and privileged Nigerians for medical treatment has left questions in the mind of many Nigerians as to the credibility of the Nigerian health sector. One begins to wonder what the fate of an average Nigerian who cannot afford this luxury would be if faced with the same health challenge.
The Nigerian health sector saddled with responsibility of managing affairs relating to medical and healthcare services is expected to provide adequate and standard health care facilities, and making them accessible to every citizen of the country; but the reverse has been the case in Nigeria as actions and inactions especially by some major players in the industry, the government and the citizens in general, have continued to impede the desired growth needed in one of the most important sectors of the country.
The truth remains that poor health facilities and the high cost at which the standard ones can be accessed pose great danger to the life of an average Nigerian. Quite despicable is the fact that the wealthy and privileged Nigerians instead of initiating strategies to improve health facilities and invest towards the development of this sector choose to visit foreign countries for treatment.
It has become a tradition in Nigeria that people travel out of the country for serious medical attention; even the president goes on series of medical vacations. Also, the ex-military president, Ibrahim Babangida’s return from Switzerland where he went for a 7-week medical vacation can also be cited. How then can the government claim to be improving on the health sector when its officials and stake holders can’t receive treatment within its facilities? Who then is the system meant for? The poor masses!!!
If top government officials, privileged Nigerians and even the president spend the fortune it costs to get treatment in other countries because they can afford it, what then is the fate of an average Nigerian who cannot afford the luxury of travelling out if faced with the same ailment?
One is therefore left to question the credibility of the health sector in preserving the lives of citizens. Is it that Nigerian institutions have not produced enough qualified medical practitioners? Are we lacking in standard medical equipment? What can one say about the medical infrastructure? – Hospitals, health centers, laboratories and other structures.
It is imperative stakeholders are reminded that this sector has to do with life, which is of more value than any other thing. The best way to achieve change is to create it; why not do more to develop this sector, other than running away to some other countries to get what we have the capacity of creating.
No doubt, there are many challenges facing this sector which should be tackled as a matter of urgency. However, the major issue to be addressed here is the negative picture painted of the health sector by incessant traveling of Nigerians for medical treatment.
It’s a true saying that people don’t value what they have; this same sector successfully tackled Lassa fever and Ebola to mention a few. It’s a shame that citizens of a country which habours great minds in medicine do not even have confidence in what should be their pride.
This is an urgent call on the government, stake holders and citizens to invest in what we can call our own. Trainings can be organised to improve field practitioners in the health sector and enough allocation should be mapped out for this sector in the budget, and monitored to ensure it gets to the right place and impact in lives positively. Let us develop this confidence in our own doctors, portray them in good light and together we can build a health sector that foreigners will patronize and consequently generate revenue for Nigeria.