Enabulele Decries Neglect Of Nigeria Healthcare System

The bad state of the healthcare system in the country recently came under serious scrutiny again, at the annual lecture of the Federated Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) held in Benin City, the Edo State capital. Stakeholders at the lecture decried the sorry state of the sector and blamed both the federal and state governments for paying lip service to the issue of adequate funding and welfare of healthcare professionals.
Leading the condemnation, president of the World Medical Association (WMA), Dr. Osahon Enabulele, who blamed both tiers of government for the rot in the sector, explained that the ongoing migration of healthcare professionals from the country, is triggered by the dearth of basic facilities including water, constant electricity, blood, gloves, drugs, etc., further compounded by the poor welfare packages offered the professionals.
He added that the mass exodus of health care practitioners is reversible if the various arms of government are alive to their responsibilities towards the citizens.
The theme of Dr. Enabulele’s lecture was, “Brain Drain: The Way Out for the Medical Profession.”
Decrying the frequent rush of the political elites to foreign countries for medical tourism rather than update and patronize existing local healthcare facilities, he warned that medical tourism, not only stifles the modernization of local medical facilities but also leads to the non-patronage of the trained local medical professionals.
According to him, Nigeria stands to lose given the declining state of the health sector which is not being adequately funded and can no longer attract and retain fresh medical professionals willing to pursue medicine as a career.
“The painful truth is that the neglect of the health sector over the years has done us more harm than good. We are losing our skilled professionals at a faster rate than ever,” the world medical association boss stated.
He challenged the Nigerian government to wake up to stem the ugly tide.
“The government must brace up and nip the ugly trend in the bud because, by the time the whole thing blows up, it will not be a child’s play.”
Dr. Enabule called for an urgent and drastic reform of the sector in terms of funding, training, provision of world-class medical facilities, and the restriction of public officials as well as office holders, from going on medical tourism to foreign lands. He proffered a series of suggestions to help stem the rot in the sector. Of paramount concern to him is the upward review of the medical training course content, hazard allowances paid to doctors on houseman, improved security for the doctors on call duty given the rampant cases of abduction, as well as insurance cover.
In a lecture delivered by Dr. Obakhedo Nevile on, “Unraveling the Nexus of Bad Governance and Irregular Migration; the Media as a Desired Catalyst,” he noted that migration is not bad as people migrate for different reasons but it becomes dangerous when citizens engage in illegal and irregular migration.
Nevile pointed out that non-adherence to the tenets of good governance by public office holders has resulted to citizens seeking for self-survival by engaging in acts inimical to the development of the country. He stressed that a resort to good governance is imperative.
“A major solution path that we could thread is to enhance the capacity of the Nigerian State to deliver on good governance as against bad governance, which must commence with the deconstruction and reconstruction of the character of elites who have used instrumentalities of the state to promote their parochial and sentimental interests, thereby, weakening the capacity of the state to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.”
He further stated that the media must set an agenda for government by organizing periodic town Hall meetings in all local government areas across the states for the purpose of sensitizing the populace against the dangers of irregular migration and human trafficking.
Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Henry Oghoator stressed that the media should not relent from providing adequate information relating to bad governance and dangers of embarking on irregular migration to the people.
He added that newsmen must wake up to their responsibility of agenda setting and interrogate those occupying public offices to ensure they are living up to expectation.
Prof. Henry Oghoator acknowledged the challenge faced by operators in government owned media but warned that failure to set the agenda leaves room for the Social Media to take control.
“I empathize with journalists in state owned media houses because they face a daunting task of reporting on bad governance. Suffice it to mention that the organized media is either to wake up or they will become irrelevant because of the advent of the social media whose information is passed around in minutes.”
In his remarks, chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Festus Alenkhe charged journalists in the state to interrogate public office holders based on their manifestoes and report when they are doing well and where they are not, in order, to promote good governance in the country.
He added that for Nigeria to attain the heights citizens want, patriots must stay back and contribute their quota to the development of the country.
In an earlier contribution, chairman of the Edo State Federated Chapel, Comrade Mercy Onyenweli had tasked stakeholders and newsmen to hold those in authority accountable to provide good governance to the people.
According to her, irregular migration can reduce when the country is secure and economically viable. She called on public office holders to eschew the old ways and ensure that citizens are carried along in their programs.
Goodwill messages were delivered from the assistant deputy comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Services, Dr. Wale. A, the zonal commander of NATIP, Nduka Nwannewenne and the Zonal Head Federal Code of Conduct Bureau, Hon E. J. Agbonoyinwa.
The NUJ Chapel officially decorated her first patron, Apostle Gordon Ada Osagiede at the occasion.