With a life expectancy of 55 years, the latest statistics from the United Nations have shown that Nigeria is one of the four countries with the lowest life expectancies in the world. At the root of early deaths in Nigeria is a healthcare system in a state of comatose due to a lack of investment and political will. The latest World Health Organisation survey ranks Nigeria’s healthcare system as the fourth worst in the world. The ongoing strike by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) is a clear example of the many challenges facing the health sector at both state and federal levels.

The pre-eminent demand of the NARD is the release of a circular to allow a one-for-one replacement to combat brain drain in the health sector. Other demands of the NARD as stated in their communique include: “the payment of all salaries and arrears including the salary arrears of 2014-2016, arrears of hazard allowance, arrears of consequential adjustment of the minimum wage and promotion arrears to our deserving members without further delay”

Indeed, these are conversations that should be kept on the front burner. For decades, Nigeria’s health sector has suffered from acute underfunding, whilst poor Nigerians have continued to lament the frequency of medical tourism of our political elites. With a population of about 200 million people, the Nigerian health sector can not boast of commensurate investment in health care at all levels because public-owned hospitals lack human resources with nonfunctional equipment and facilities. Patients suffer harsh treatment with lack of empathy from the medical personnel who are underpaid and overwhelmed by the daily throng of patients needing care. A school of thought said “Nigeria health and medical government workers themselves need help, therapy and counselling to function” The interventions of local and international organisations, broadcast of health-related programmes in print and electronic media including free consultations by certified medical practitioners on Women Radio’s programme “Radio Doctor” and other interventions by NGOs and CSOs to bridge the gap in the healthcare system and cater to the health issues of Nigerians can not be ignored.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in November 2022 disclosed under the Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index that over 133 million Nigerians live in abject poverty. This figure represents 63 per cent of the nation’s population. Many Nigerians can not afford basic public healthcare because it is expensive. Private hospitals are for “upper” Nigerians who can afford some extra naira while others walk around with life-threatening illnesses in a game of luck hoping for a miracle. Inadequate funding is one of the myriads of challenges plaguing healthcare delivery in Nigeria and much has been said about the problem of uncouthness in the system and the risk these individuals pose to the lives of patients.
Healthcare delivery in Nigeria has experienced progressive deterioration largely to weakened political will on the part of successive governments to effectively solve many problems that have accumulated in the sector over the years. This directly impacts the productivity of citizens and by extension Nigeria’s economic growth. Some doctors are not left out and caught up in as deeply rooted corruption and nonchalance in the Nigerian system. The dearth of medical personnel is further compounded by the “japa syndrome” mass migration abroad of Nigerian-trained health professionals due to poor conditions of service in the country. We hope the Tinubu-led administration delivers on its promise to revive Nigeria and have all “japaed” return home to rebuild the Nigeria of our dream.

The recent incident that led to the death or “murder” of the young female Dr. Vwaere Diaso further corroborated the ills of the health sector. Diaso died in a long standing faulty elevator that crashed from the 10th floor on Monday 31 July 2023 at the Lagos Island General Hospital Odan, sparking outrage from Nigerians. Her death which could have been avoided further exposed the claims of medical personnel and the unfavourable conditions they have to work under as they swore the Hippocratic Oath and empathy also comes to play in these situations. Reports have surfaced on how a non-proactive emergency team and lack of medical resources played a part in the inability to save the life of Dr. Diaso. This incident got a lot of reactions from medical personnel on the poor welfare and consideration for them across the country. Some lamented that the said elevator had been faulty since 2020 and despite reports nothing was done to repair the faulty elevator.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the loss of Dr. Diaso describing her death as shocking and a colossal loss to Lagos state health sector and Nigeria as a whole. Sanwo-Olu, in a statement, said he had taken immediate action to initiate a thorough investigation into the incident. Commiserating with the deceased family, friends and colleagues, particularly the Nigeria Medical Association, Medical Guild, doctors and healthcare professionals in Lagos State noted that the investigation will be conducted with utmost transparency and fairness, leaving no room for any biases or favouritism.

It is hoped that this wake-up call would reach governments in all regions of the country to fix public-owned hospitals, state-owned hospitals, and primary health care centres for the benefit of Nigerians especially Women and Children in rural areas and vulnerable people in the IDP camps.

Esther Alaribe is the head of programme at Women Radio 91.7
Esther@wfm917.com