ISSUE NUMBER THREE:
QUALITY PUBLIC HEALTH CARE
A few weeks ago, I saw an advertisement in one of our
national daily newspapers which underscored for me how really bad things have
become in our health care system: an Indian hospital was advertising its
services in Nigeria for Nigerians! The hospital wanted to be the first choice
of Nigerians who were going to India for sundry medical reasons. India has
become the place to go for all types of surgeries, organ transplants, treatment
of various cancers and other diseases which had defied solution in our numerous
University Teaching Hospitals and other “tertiary” medical institutions. And
India is a developing country.....like Nigeria.
As has been the case
since the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) started publishing the
Human Development Index (HDI), Nigeria’s 2013 HDI statistics and the World
Health Organisation’s World Health Statistics 2013, tell a woeful story about
our health sector:
v Expenditure on health,
public (% of GDP): 1.9%
v Under-five
mortality (per 1,000 live births): 143
v Maternal
mortality (deaths of women per 100,000 live births): 630
v Life expectancy
at birth (years): 52.3
v Population
without access to improved drinking water: 39%
v Population
without access to improved sanitation: 69%
v Medical personnel
per 10,000 people:
Physicians: 4; Nurses and Midwives: 16.1; Dentists: 0.2; Pharmacists: 1.
Physicians: 4; Nurses and Midwives: 16.1; Dentists: 0.2; Pharmacists: 1.
In summary, Nigeria
is presently one of the worst places to be born and to live in the world. Our
infants are dying needlessly; our young mothers are dying too. It is a true
miracle when a woman survives child-birth and has her baby alive!
The World Health Organisation noted in its World Health Statistics 2013 Report that unsafe water supplies and inadequate levels of sanitation and hygiene are two of the main preventable risk factors that are associated with increased mortality and morbidity in developing countries such as Nigeria. It stated in the report that “unsafe water supplies and inadequate levels of sanitation and hygiene increase the transmission of diarrhoeal diseases (including cholera); trachoma; and hepatitis”. Consequently, it is essential that there be synergy between our National Health Policy and our National Water Policy. The provision of safe drinking water nation-wide must be a critical element of our health care strategy.
Nigeria must improve funding for health care and ensure that we not only retain our medical professionals but attract those in the diaspora who left the country in search of greener pastures.
As a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will advocate and push legislation to ensure that at least 20% of the Annual Budget of the Federal Government is devoted to the health sector. The increased funding that shall become available shall be used in improving facilities at public hospitals and to enhance the remuneration of our medical personnel so as to ensure parity with their peers who have similar qualifications and experience in western countries. I shall also promote the provision of safe drinking water nation-wide as an imperative for the good health of our peoples.
Like India is today, Nigeria can become the preferred destination for medical tourism within the next ten years if we commit ourselves to build and maintain world class hospitals and bring back our numerous medical professionals who are the leading lights in many health-care facilities in Europe and North America.
We can do it.
Esan di fure!
Nigeria di fure!!
The World Health Organisation noted in its World Health Statistics 2013 Report that unsafe water supplies and inadequate levels of sanitation and hygiene are two of the main preventable risk factors that are associated with increased mortality and morbidity in developing countries such as Nigeria. It stated in the report that “unsafe water supplies and inadequate levels of sanitation and hygiene increase the transmission of diarrhoeal diseases (including cholera); trachoma; and hepatitis”. Consequently, it is essential that there be synergy between our National Health Policy and our National Water Policy. The provision of safe drinking water nation-wide must be a critical element of our health care strategy.
Nigeria must improve funding for health care and ensure that we not only retain our medical professionals but attract those in the diaspora who left the country in search of greener pastures.
As a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will advocate and push legislation to ensure that at least 20% of the Annual Budget of the Federal Government is devoted to the health sector. The increased funding that shall become available shall be used in improving facilities at public hospitals and to enhance the remuneration of our medical personnel so as to ensure parity with their peers who have similar qualifications and experience in western countries. I shall also promote the provision of safe drinking water nation-wide as an imperative for the good health of our peoples.
Like India is today, Nigeria can become the preferred destination for medical tourism within the next ten years if we commit ourselves to build and maintain world class hospitals and bring back our numerous medical professionals who are the leading lights in many health-care facilities in Europe and North America.
We can do it.
Esan di fure!
Nigeria di fure!!
