Health Wise

The Health Sector in Nigeria is seriously in dire need of resuscitation if not outright resurrection. Over four decades, issues’ pertaining to the lack of adequate primary and tertiary health care development has continuously contributed to the underdevelopment of many faucets of the Nigerian economy. When one looks at the issues that affect Health care in Nigeria its seems they are never ending because from all angles of the problem there seems to be no ready set remedies to aid this very important sector of the Nation. But one of the most important issues that cripple the health care sector is the lack of long term planning by the Government with a vision to achieve set goals and objectives. Primary healthcare over the years has not been supported giving ground for inadequate provision of health care to 80 percent of the population. According to Luke Onyekakeyah a former lecturer at Enugu State University of Technology, Enugu “without an integrated strategic plan involving the states and local governments, any talk of making primary healthcare the cornerstone of healthcare delivery in the country would be empty rhetoric”. In addition to the lack of planning, corruption also seems to be a major contributing factor in the mix of ailments that snuffs the life off a reliable health sector. Without a healthy Nation, as much as we make efforts for the development of Nigeria it almost seems that nothing is accomplished. The failure of the health sector is unlike any other major sector of Nigeria’s growth.
In 2009, the Nigeria health sector was besieged with all manner of plagues. Plagues that manifested in form of terrible communicable diseases like Cholera; at last count between the Northern states of Adamawa; where according to the commissioner for Information, up to 77 died and 950 where infected ( these figures have been contested since the chairman of the states medical and health union believes it runs into the hundreds) and Taraba where at least 25 people died, one wonders why in these times of rapid globalization, Nigerians are still dying of preventable diseases such as cholera; a disease which to tackle needs as little as information on its manner of manifestation, transmission and cure. The lack of adequate education of the populace was buttressed by the results of a poll conducted by NOI poll in Nigeria to access awareness levels of the existence of H1N1 virus (swine flu) and perception of Nigeria’s ability to deal with an its outbreak and other possible outbreaks in the country. The results of the poll showed that most Nigerians up to 70 percent of respondents polled do not have any confidence in the ability of the present administration to handle an outbreak of any kind.
Many factors have contributed to the gradual death of this very important part of our economic growth. One of these factors is the constant flight of qualified health workers to other countries. There are an unknown number of medical professionals that presently work outside of Nigeria, providing needed Human, capital and material resources for the socio economic, cultural and political development of other countries. But why should they? When Nigeria has not shown any serious steps towards creating a favorable environment to encourage medical professionals to stay back and serve their own. Why should they? It is a known fact that outside of Nigeria, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, physical therapists, microbiologists to name a few make more than a decent living and are treated with respect in working environments that encourage intellectual creativity and development.
According to Simeon Kayode Olubiyi, Course Cordinator National Open University of Lagos, “Better pay and medical facilities have been cited as the main reason for the flight of Nigerian doctors, nurses and paramedical staff” Speaking at the graduation ceremony of nurses at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos he also stated thus ‘Nurses do work hard but they receive little as salary, which make them like anchors in the hospitals. Many of them who would want to further their education battle with job problems along with poor remuneration”. It does not take one to hear this from a working professional in the education sector to realize its validity.
In 2009, apart from the strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities there were also numerous strikes by medical workers; Doctors, Nurses and Paramedical staff on a National and state level. These industrial actions were as a result of remuneration with the various unions aggrieved over issues such as lack of an improved salary structure, overdue arrears, lack of promotions, non implementation of medical service scales, and non payment of 24 month monetization arrears. With the year 2020 very much around the corner how does Nigeria expect to achieve it much touted bump up into the list of first 20 industrialized nations in the world, when medical workers strike over resolvable issues that they truly deserve?
In the 21st century Nigeria is still flying its leaders abroad for medical procedures; making a mockery of its own medical facilities and professionals.
However, there are Nigerians in Diaspora who have been making themselves available, especially through the creation of medical missions and Non Governmental Organizations aimed at providing and giving back a little to communities in Nigeria. Mainly, these organizations because they are non-for-profit, run small
charitable operations but make a huge impact in the lives of the poor and needy.
Two of such organizations are Hope Restoration Medical Mission (HRM), established in 2003 and based in Queens, New York, U.S.A and Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA) established 3 years ago in 2006 in the state of Georgia, U.S.A. Both organizations have over the years established a track record for efficiency and reliability by providing medical missions backed by professionals and non professionals in the Disapora.
Hope Restoration mission has shown its dedication to the under privileged and has established good working relationships with major drug and home goods manufacturers in the United States. In turn, Pastor Reuben Chizor who leads this mission has extended the same philosophy of charitable giving to citizens of his home country. Over the past 5 years of its mission, HRM has donated over 2 million dollars worth of medication to communities in Lagos, Abuja, Delta, Anambra, Enugu and Imo State. In October of this year, eight (8) members of HRM were in Nigeria for their annual visit to various communities. The 2009 mission was made up of dedicated medical doctors, nurses, physical therapists and Social Workers. When there are in these beneficiary communities their work entails providing free blood pressure, blood sugar and ENT tests, administering over the counter and prescription medication as well as conducting cancer, diabetes, hypertension and HIV/AIDS awareness programs and testing. To members of HRM the service they provide is as fulfilling to them as the time they get to share with friends and families in these communities were they have become very familiar with; touching lives and creating smiles in the faces of Nigerians who at one point or the other have all but given up hope on their ability to get much needed medical attention.
In similar fashion, MUTA has also set a standard in Benue State where their efforts have been supported by the Benue State Government and backed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). According to their past Vice President Mrs. Monica Hemden Eimunjeze, MUTA is all about members giving back to communities that have been instrumental to their growth and development into responsible individuals of a country they call home and their home country. With nine (9) and ten (10) medical professionals in 2008 and 2009 respectively taking that long trip from the southern state of Georgia, United States to Nigeria, MUTA has been able to provide medical assistance to more then 5,000 Five Thousand individuals in communities like Katsina-Ala, Gboko, Oturkpo, Makurdi, Vande-Ikya and Agbasha. In 2009 MUTA’s efforts where compounded because of a general strike by doctors in Benue state, making their outreach relevant to poor citizens who could not afford private medical care. Their medical mission has also organized conferences that dealt primarily with issues such as Emergency medical service; according to the Federal road Safety Commission (FRSC) 400 people die monthly in Nigeria as a result of road accidents of this amount up to 200 people can be saved if there are reliable emergency medical services.
In addition, there are also umbrella institutions that hold partnerships of different groups with one vision in sight. One of such NGO’s is the Partnership for Development (PTD). PTD has partnered with other NGO;s, women groups, USAID and government institutions at local and state levels in donating materials for orphans and vulnerable children. In addition PTD has been working in states like Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi and Benue state, offering counseling, care and retroviral mentoring programme ((CAMP). With unity in purpose such as has been seen with PTD more can be achieved with less.
But I must say that there are many missions, NGO’s and individuals who have been contributing and continue to uplift the health care standards in Nigeria. Sometimes their endeavors are recognized and other times they are not. But mostly these exercises in giving are voluntary and need to be commended in all possible ways by a society that needs its members to be healthy and a Government that has failed in the provision of adequate and sustainable health care. This will only encourage more of these acts of kindness and raise our health indices.
Recently, in the House of Representatives a bill was introduced that seeks to create a Diaspora Commission. In all understanding this is a great effort by our legislature in recognizing a missing factor in the development of the Nation. In realizing that Nigeria loses more from having skillful individuals spread across various disciplines absent from the creation of critical national policy and decisions, the
House of Representatives takes a bold step towards taping into a resource that has long been ignored. But creating a commission is one thing and properly articulating its structure, framework, mechanism and eventual operation is another.
In the past and presently, Nigerians in Diaspora have in their minute ways contributed to different sectors of the country either by taking critical positions in Government Ministries or privately creating businesses and organizations that seek to transfer
knowledge to up and coming Nigerian based professionals. It is important to note that establishing a Diaspora commission will create a bureaucratic organization which if not properly managed will stifle the particular goals that it seeks to accomplish. Its is also important to note that as much as a commission as thus is needed, there is also a need for Nigerians in the Diaspora to be more organized under an umbrella in their respective countries of abode. Insisting on organization will make it a lot easier to aid a smooth transitioning of these individuals to their motherland.
What Nigerians in the Diaspora yearn for with regards to their efforts to give back and contribute to their Home country is an enabling environment that is free of political drawbacks but loaded with incentives both material and otherwise. These incentives would include adequate infrastructure and an organized system that supports individuals and organizations pursing philanthropic goals. Learning from the experiences of Non governmental organizations like Hope Restoration, MUTA, PTD and many others also helps, since they can serve as models for creating smoother running missions in the Health sector and other sectors of the Nigerian society that needs massive rehabilitation.


This article will be published in phenomenal people Magazine 2010

All Rights reserved.

Press Ups !

Its amazing what you read in the National dailies and the absurdity in some of the reports ! The recently concluded ILO world conference just depicts some of such governmental disappointments that we get to hear almost on a daily basis in Nigeria . A conference that was supposed to have Nigerian legislative representatives as observers and participants only had them showing up on the last day with silly excuses of missed flights and underfunded ministries>?! after 16 days?...... Then the minister of works tells the press, public or his own Government "to be careful" after he was asked by the press what actions and plans his ministry was taking in repairing the Oshodi-Apapa expressway in Lagos! Be careful of what!? speaking the truth and letting the world know of your incompetencies? Damn if I had hair it would be all gone by now!..... then there is the recent interview by DSP Alamesigha, interesting read ! We all have an idea of how the country was run between 1999 and 2007 but either way its refreshing to hear these unashamed corrupt potbellied and gross so called politicians tell all about their power plays and squabbles behind the scenes... Please bring it on ! we need more, more, more !

Hmmm.... I thought we were rebranded

For a country that started a rebranding campaign a couple of weeks ago, to be beset by such pessimistic developments like FIFA has just indicated is quite unfortunate. The Nigerian Government at some point made a declaration that Nigeria was not interested in hosting the FIFA event because "it was not our priority" Then Please Government what are our priorities? When so much hoopla has been made of Nigeria's "Good People Great Nation" then how does the outside world experience the goodness and greatness? Isn't hosting a FIFA event a great avenue of showcasing our changed ways? which is one of the objectives of of the rebranding campaign? Other standby countries hoping and praying for our standard lackadaisical attitude to preparedness have been ready to Host the same event a year early. In my opinion there is no need for FIFA to waste its time returning to Nigeria for inspections in 30days, if we have not been ready since January of 2009 then there are no miracles that will get these stadia ready in 30 days.

Change ? We are still at it !

I can't really say if the elections in Ekiti State was rigged or not, if it was fair and free, but what I can say though is that a whole lot of people are not very happy with the results announced by an REC who after the elections was declared missing by the Nigerian Police force? Hmmmm.... well the next couple of days, weeks and months and years will really let all know what really happened. As long as the Federal Republic of Nigeria is concerned No evil under the SUN is uncoverable ! After 49 Years of Independence, the country has very little to show with regards to development especially infrastructural development. There have been a lot of individuals that have occupied seats of power and authority, engulfed and swimming in the almost endless sea of corruption and filth called Government, have they been the smart ones ? or have they been fooling themselves in thinking that lining their pockets with OUR LANDS wealth will move them and their families forward? The land we live on is a very fair land and irrespective of what your religion may be there are LAWS OF NATURE that irrespective of creed, race or beliefs guide us. BAD is BAD and GOOD is GOOD however way you twist, turn, manipulate, adjust or arrange it.
The fuel Crisis is still on weeks after promises and comments by the Government on how it will soon be over ! DID I SEE A HEADLINE TODAY SUGGESTING THAT THE FG WAS APOLOGISING FOR THE FUEL SCARCITY? Ol Boy na apologies wey go cook food for the thousands that can't get kerosene to cook with? RAW DEAL thats what we keep on getting. But lets wait and see what happens in the next couple of days ! I'm not very optimistic just hopeful that it does not get worse than it already is ! People WAKE UP and SMELL the Coffee, Tea, Akamu, Akara or what ever you have to smell ! its not getting better around here !

Our Youth !

What does the inaction in the face of frustration and oppression say of generations X and Y in Nigeria?

Its May 3rd 2009 in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city and the heat wave is simmering at 95 degrees Fahrenheit ! In the Jabi / Utako neighborhood where I reside there hasn't been electric power for three days running . There is no petrol to power the noisy generators that we are all used to and for sure not a lick to power our cars.
Frustratiion is an understatement of how I feel and I dont feel stuff easy ! What suprises me is the inaction of everyone that I meet on the streets, in the market , in offices and anywhere at all. Well, transporters are just too glad to raise their fares, so have the tomato sellers and roasted fish joints all around town. Dare to question the increase and the lackadasical reply of NO FUEL crops up ! We are surely getting a RAW DEAL with this administration ! But are you surprised ? NO ! What I'm surprised about though is the inaction and shear weakness of the Nigerian Youth in the 21st century ?! It doesnt even take this in Europe or the United States for the youths to raise their Placards,Voices and Votes to demand CHANGE ! WOW are we glad that MR. BARACK, campaigned on CHANGE and won an astonishing election ! But thats all we are, glad. There is no action to replicate or even enthuse a different direction on our daily thought processes. Has the suffering really reduced the Nigerian youth to a bunch of Beer drinking, materialistic, visionless men and women ? I'm fired up to give this a go ! What you may ask ? We need to get out of this captivity and inaction, this passivness that weakens our bones preventing even a whisper to escape our impoverished battered psyche ! I'm tired but FIRED UP ! I will continue to speak till I am heard ! It may take a long time but surely it willl happen !I do not have answers for Generation Z on why we did not do anything when faced with such easy choices. I was not born when Nigerians dead and alive fought and won Independence from the Colonialists but they damn sure did a great job ! What will be our legacy ? Definitely not Militancy ? Violence has never begotten good ! Go look at History ! Words have though and however way we choose to start communicating , Now is the time ! Tomorrow is pregnant but at least we know what today don BORN !

Yes it is!

Its beyond despicable that I posted only a paragraph in the year 2008, but there is a new resolution here ! No more promises if I can't get to keep them, but the year 2009 being the Year of the Ox offers greater surprises than 2008 . We are still moving ( Can't really say whether forward or backwards ) as a country.
Its only disappointing that after the first full year (and some) of the present Yaradua administration there is little or nothing to show for its existence. Security is still a major problem in the country, Food Prices are ever still heading towards outer space, Energy, regardless of which you refer to is still at a dismal supply level, slums disguised as adequate living quarters still sprawl the length of the nation, Clean drinking water ( Irrespective of the euphoria of pure water) is still liquid gold, Federal Roads are still a mess ( Two football Teams lost their lives recently in road accidents) and the list just goes on and on ! I know there are arguments in challenge of these statements. I really need to hear them !
The disappointment that has been Nigeria is heart wrenching but we will throttle on ! As a nation of survivalists we shall overcome!
I know for now it is just a dream but many have dreamt and it has come to pass ! And if the citizens of Nigeria have been collectively dreaming of a better tomorrow , then tomorrow is truely pregnant ! and as my people say nobody knows what it would bring !

Offline

Well I will stop making promises about haitus or its plural form ( if it has one) but yes ! been out again for even longer and can't blame me , the lack of adequate speedy internet service is all to blame but again Im back and here to stay will keep it up to date as required.
But meanwhile in my abscence a lot has been happening within the political secenery in Nigeria, 5 Governors have been ejected for either fraudulent election practices or not deserving the seat either way ! Are we surprised ? Hell No! It can't be over emphasised that the elections of April 2007 were a joke and an assault on the collective intelligence of Nigerians, but what we need to climb to the top of the mountain and scream about is the new wave of judicial proclamations and sturdy decisions been taken. Only yesterday, I said in the midst of conversation "if there were 1 million Dora Akunyili's in Nigeria" , this perputual state of hopelessness, maybe not entirely disappearing will start slowly fading away. But there are so many "Ifs"to contend with in Nigeria. "If we had good leadership" "If we had good followership" "if only greed wasn't the ruling motivation for work and the nooks and cranies of our bloated lives in Nigeria "If only I had not said why are you asking me for my engine number?" before getting a thorough tongue lashing from the Rambo styled cops on a major highway last week" If only.... and it goes on and on ... But we will get there if only we can decipher the good from the gluttoned