There are certain things that we cannot afford to ignore. One of such is the issue of a crumbling health sector. No matter how often concerns have been raised and reiterated regarding this issue, all must not tire in advocating for the greater good. Hence, I take it upon myself to plunge, as deep as the issue itself has, into the worrisome norm of merciless healthcare, effects on Nigerians as the inevitable victims, and even the pathetic condition of many hospitals and healthcare centres. Shall we?
The looming presence of declining healthcare in Nigeria is rather disappointing to say the least. There should be viable improvement, not the inverse. One thing often highlighted is the failure of the government to dedicate more time, effort and resources to the sector, but little, or let’s say, not too much, is said about the personnel (be it in terms of training and ethics, or low personnel in operation). Both should be up for debate as they are quite the questionable duo.
“The belief of these doctors is just to cut and stitch, even if it’s unnecessary and there are other options for smooth delivery. They are always so quick to do that. When I had my first child, the same happened to me. Now instead of them to prescribe the necessary drugs and antibiotics for healing and recovery, due to their usual carelessness, they simply stitched and discharged me. After 3-4 days, it had transformed into a massive, painful sore. Only after a visit from my relatives and being redirected to get the drugs, did I get better”, this was the experience of a new mother, narrating how ‘careless’ these healthcare workers (of a government-owned hospital by the way) are. She believed, for most of them, the most important thing is “ẹjọ́” (talking/chit-chat), instead of their primary focus. This is a common practice in Nigerian hospitals, a fact that I can attest to from my recent visits to hospitals, particularly amongst nurses. Could be federal, state, private or even university clinics/hospitals, it’s the same trend, just different hospital names. Lives are being toyed with in the very place where life is supposed to be valued and protected. Self medication is deemed to be wrong, but when one heads to the right institution, rushing in her obviously ill son but receives a full-on lecture regarding ‘why she was following her sick son around like a three year old’ from the doctors and nurses there whilst being sent all around to get drugs that should originally be provided, or when one brings in a student with chronic headaches to a university clinic but was denied access to fast treatment until this student lost consciousness (all because the clinic card was left behind) and was STILL not attended to by the way, can Nigerians really be blamed if they resorted to other, let’s say, “unconventional” methods of treatment? I wonder.
The proper execution of their medical duties has a direct effect on the patients, yet this fact is sadly unrealised. After listening to the gory tale of a woman who underwent surgery, got stitched and began to emit a foul stench after some days, “not knowing that, somehow, the surgical equipments were left within her and stitched” thereby leading to being “ripped open once more”, I can’t seem to fathom how truly ‘out-of-focus’ one can be to commit such a heinous mistake worthy of causing permanent damage or even death. According to the source, this happened almost 2 decades ago. 20 years, and we are still dealing with the same level of irresponsibility. These stories, as well as many more, serve as vivid depictions of how high the health risks for the populace are within the healthcare system/body itself, and thereafter, how low we have sunk.
Most medical practitioners have left the country for greener pastures and better operational conditions, however, for the few that chose to stay, at least make it worth it. I mean, was the goal not to save lives? Or maybe that changed.
Speaking of saving lives, it’s easy to hold the irresponsible professionals accountable, but what about the healthcare environment itself? The lack of proper and sufficient medical facilities as well as the imbalance of available personnel in contrast to growing number of patients has become a bit too normalised for a so-called ‘developing’ country.
The condition of many hospitals in Nigeria is overwhelmingly pitiable. I visited the State hospital, Owode, Oyo State, and the first striking observance, of course irresistible, is the dire need for renovation. The less-primary sectional buildings seem almost like abandoned houses, with even roofs falling apart. Not to mention the traditional lengthy wait, all for a few people to be attended to with no regard for others, even during emergencies (owing to large number of patients & major workload, and the disproportionate number of doctors available. With a reference back to Vanguard reporter, Akambi Afeso’s story (or what I’d call a necessary critique) back in 2020, titled’ “Nigeria’s health sector and my experience”, a state of emergency really SHOULD be declared on the health sector, I mean, it’s safe to say we have been bearing the brunt for much too long.
“The experience there was bad. Their reason was that the place was just being brought back to life due to the previous year of Biafra militant wars and they had to relocate people away from the town. Now, they’re trying to bring it back, however the hospital is not being funded for this purpose. So, the people that are there are just doing the work, just to get money. It’s a bad place to work, I mean, we work without gloves in their labs, you understand? So the whole environment is bad, it’s not a standard place basically. I mean imagine wanting to run tests on a patient’s blood sample and there are no gloves, yet, high risk of infections. The machines are not up to date either, so whatever result you get from the hospital, there’s a substantial possibility that it’s not entirely accurate”, Bello, a Nigerian youth service corper (name changed for the purpose of anonymity) posted to Imo State, recounted his experience and the situation of the system. He noted that the teaching hospital, just like the community itself, looked largely deserted and abandoned, with even the staff quarters in highly unliveable conditions. The risk of infections, as well as poor standards fuelled his desire for redeployment, which he in fact eventually opted for. Now while there were issues with delayed payment and inconsistent electricity, it was “a better place with regards to standards” as opposed to his previous place of assignment in Orlu, Imo State.
This is the ponderous situation of the Nigerian healthcare system. Nigeria is a country of hundreds of millions of people, with only tens of thousands of certified doctors (over 70,000 to be precise). Why? Unfavourable working conditions, of course. Trained professionals would take any chance they get to leave the country for more conducive work environments, can we blame them though?
Fact is, there’s a lot of work to be done, and the more the delay, the steeper this already slippery slope will get. It is often stated that the government is constantly looking into these issues, however, very little progress (if not close to none) is seen, maybe the government is over-loaded with too many issues, or maybe, just maybe, enough attention is not given to the health sector as acclaimed. Healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria is still devoid of substantial development, and the allocated budget to health, by the federal government, is very little in contrast to the pledged percentage. Nigeria’s healthcare indicators are some of the worst in Africa, yet the country’s population is estimated to reach 400 million by 2050, hence likely becoming the 3rd most populous country. Is this how we will tarry? I certainly hope not.
At the end of it all, Nigeria’s healthcare sector is lacking many things, but I believe, the core element itself is almost extinct. What is it you ask? Care– plain, genuine, priceless care.not only to shine but also to last; to last longer. It is transgenerational because of proper mentorship. There is proper mentorship in both industries not as a platform for dictations but as a platform to expand the ‘Wisdom table.’
