By Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu
The story of the courageous missionary to Africa, Mary Slessor (1848-1915) who saved the lives of hundreds of mothers and their twins, is a very inspiring one. Her courage and determination continue to save lives today all over Africa. The British politician, philanthropist and leader of the movement to abolish slave trade, William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was a very courageous man who stood out to fight evil and he changed the world.
His campaign took him to, many places and made resolutions which eventually led to the freedom of African slaves. More than half of the general population in Nigeria are not just slaves, they are chained and in bondage without any hope of freedom. Nigerians need a saviour or a fighter who will rescue them as many give up and die.
Japan has hinted that the Bonny Light crude oil is one of the most valuable crude oils throughout the whole world. According to them, 78 items are gotten from refining and distillation of Bonny Light crude oil. Despite all these, Nigerians languish in perpetual poverty and hunger.
The discovery of the laundering of 7 tonnes of high valued Naira notes, at Kampala Airport in 1975 opened up a cesspool of corruption and embezzlement that has kept the health sector in shambles and millions are dying. The northern military, the interests of Britain and America in the expensive resources in Nigeria have kept the country at its toes since independence.
Healthcare delivery in Nigeria has experienced progressive deterioration as a result of weakened political will on the part of successive governments to effectively solve several problems that have existed in the sector over the years. Most health workers leave the country for good, because of the insensitivity of government towards the health sector and unwillingness to address myriads of problems in the sector.
The public healthcare system run under primary healthcare facilities, general hospitals and teaching hospitals, is either underfunded, not supervised or not well managed. Several outbreaks of diseases have shown that the healthcare system lacks medical intelligence, surveillance.
U.S in the last few months experienced scarcity of certain drugs especially antibiotics, diabetic and obese control drugs. Statistics show that drug manufacturers, pharmacies in Nigeria hiked drugs by over 150%. Common anti-malaria drugs have gone beyond the reach of many Nigerians. Nigeria is witnessing more morbidity and mortality, as well as recycling of poverty among the majority of the population.
In the last 10 years nothing has improved except the health of Nigerian presidents who go for treatment abroad and other politicians who rely on medical tourism overseas. The costs of antibiotics, antimalaria, antiarrhythmics, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic are alarming and unaffordable.
A responsible government which has value for human lives will do all it can to subsidize the prices of essential commodities, life-saving drugs and services. The nature of our healthcare services is a reflection of the culture we found ourselves in. Just like we demand new things and change our fashion, sometimes we demand new drugs, the miracle cure or the magic bullet.
We must not take tablets for every ailment; the practice of relaxation exercise, change in diet or lifestyle modification could be the magic. We must begin to ask our doctors the right questions – must I require another prescription? Must I take these drugs? Every drug has contra-indications, side-effects and interactions.
Nigeria has a high burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS are big challenges. Malnutrition is also common with astounding rate of 43.6%. Disease burden is the impact of a health problem on a given population, and can be measured using a variety of indicators such as mortality, morbidity or financial costs. Progress in reducing the burden of diseases has been at a standstill endangering lives and perpetuating a vicious cycle of inequity. Some of these diseases like malaria, which is preventable and treatable, still affect many who are vulnerable due to poverty and limited education.
On the average, Nigerians receive 7 to 10 prescriptions a year and the pharmaceutical industry is one of the largest and most successful. The risk of premature death from non-communicable diseases – cardiovascular disease, cancers, respiratory diseases, diabetes is high, owing to a number of concerns. A very little percentage of the populace is health insured while the government provisions for health is insignificant.
Anambra State Government has employed 400 doctors and 900 health workers in less than 2 years under Prof. C. C Soludo. The government has upgraded the three general hospitals of Ekwulobia, Enugwu-ukwu and Umueri to referral centers. Again, ‘Healthy Living With Nonye’, has embarked on seminars, training, to raise awareness on healthy choices, lifestyle, encouraged backyard farming for vegetables, reduced hawking, street trading, rehabilitated urchins, mentally sick in alliance with psychiatrists.
Finally, WHO has lamented that the burden of diseases in low-income countries is high. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is an agelong proverb that has come to explain the health of citizens in Nigeria. Nigerians are hungry and it impacts their well-being. ‘A healthy nation is a wealthy nation’ – the absence of a decent wage in the country underscores the irresponsibility of governance and care, high cost of living and inability of the masses to access medicare.
Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu writes from Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
