Dr Benjamin Oluwatosin Eno-Obong Olowojebutu
Happy Democracy Day Nigeria!
As we remember today the 26th uninterrupted democracy of the largest black nation.
I want to sincerely celebrate the remaining health workers still living and working in this nation to protect what is left of our healthcare space. You are the real MVPs
From 1999 to date, Nigeria has been an epicentre of many events: the good, bad, and ugly. Her health sector was not spared in these series of melodrama displayed across the length and breadth of the green-white-green Republic.
It is shocking to note that as the population spikes, the health facilities across the nation shrink. Many hospitals have sadly become memorabilia of their glory days. Like the biblical depiction of ignoble regression, these hospitals are nothing but Ichabod.
The yearly budgetary allocation for the health sector perfectly expresses how forsaken our health sector has become. Needless to say, we are always below the United Nation safe threshold for budgetary health allocation.
Consequently, it is commonplace to see people die of avoidable deaths because hospitals are without adequate manpower scantily equipped yet heavily flooded with patients and on top of that some inhumane medical administrators are busy sacking doctors.
Rather than put on their thinking caps to fix this despicable mess, our leaders have shamefully exonerated themselves from the needless quagmire they gleefully invented, no thanks to their selfish and winners-take-all style of governance.
Now, they’ve resorted to medical tourism without bothering about the citizenry. For the slightest deviation in their health, they are on their way to foreign hospitals, so any ravenous ‘healthquake’ can swallow others; they are less concerned.
The mitochondrion of health care sustainability of every nation is education and research. This Siamese twin is steadily dying in Nigeria, and its comatose state is nearer to the celestial than the terrestrial.
Medical students who are the future of the health sector, their studies and training are constantly inhibited and thwarted by ASUU strikes. This disturbing interruption in their training is now predictable, and solutions seem far from the horizon.
Gradually and steadily, graduate medical doctors find it difficult to get appropriate placement to finetune their medical training further post-NYSC.
Pathetically, medical doctors who are already employed are stretched beyond the limit and overwhelmed with work. In Nigeria, the statistics of doctor-patient and hospital-patient are scary and worrisome. Yet, it is business as usual among elected policymakers.
Despite the humongous workload, the welfare of medical doctors is embarrassingly meagre.
Their remunerations aren’t commensurate with the unending tasks and overwhelming duties. The current poor welfare reality is a brewing concern for a profession that demands accuracy, empathy, and stable mental health.
Despite the welfare package that is below par, medical doctors still execute their core functions committedly and devotedly, yet when they encounter hazards in the process, they are treated as loners and some are unjustly sacked by some draconian medical administrators.
As a nation, we have seemingly lost our moral compass. We have no value for the lives of people. Interestingly, but shockingly, our leaders dearly protect theirs at the expense of the masses. How long can we keep hiding behind one finger?
This deadly hypocrisy has come to a head. Medical practitioners now find solace in other countries that value their expertise, compensating them with fatter pay and affectionate care. Hence, there is an increase in the exodus of medical doctors off our shore. This unabated transit has been christened JAPA and other jaw-cracking names, but what is not funny is the brain drain we are experiencing is worse than the sting of COVID-19.
Interestingly, when Nigerian doctors are transplanted to favourable nations, they become touch bearers and sparkling beacons of medical practice. Can it be sadder than this?
Our problem has never been low cerebral ability or poor technical prowess. But a lack of political will to do what is right. It is heart-wrenching that in the 21st century, the number of people who still die of malaria and maternal death is still in the millions.
Yes, Nigeria has turned 26 in uninterrupted democracy. Is it worth celebrating? But a glance at the poor gait of our health sector demands reflection, introspection, and redirection.
We must all collective speak about the decay and failure of leadership in our healthcare space.
Until we become united and speak in one voice without personal aggrandizement. There is no change in sight.
Is there really anything to be Happy about today.
My Heart bleeds
God bless Nigeria.
Dr Benjamin Oluwatosin Eno-Obong Olowojebutu, is the First Vice-President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
