Dr 231125:Poor State of Health Services Provision in The Country ! What is the Way Forward?

Last week, we talked about cancer and how difficult it is to manage a patient or relative with cancer in this environment. We would like to start by expressing our appreciation for your numerous comments and contributions. Also saying a big thank you to those of you that shared your personal experiences.
This week, we are going to look at the poor state of health services provision in the country. It's so hurting to see people die everyday because of preventable deaths. We have one of the worst health indices in the world ranging from poor maternal mortality ratio to death of under 5 children. The life expectancy of an average Nigerian from birth is put at 47 compared to other countries where you have life expectancy above 70.If you would want to contest that, look around you and tell me how many elderly people you can see. Maybe, then, you would agree.
This is the only country in the world where patients and relatives attack medical professionals because of not receiving immediate attention at the emergency unit. Do you also know that some supposedly patient relatives rape female doctors on overnight call duties? Why the attack and abuse of medical professionals? Are they really the cause of the problems?
As it stands now! The doctor to patient ratio in Nigeria is 1:3,500 which is far from the World Health Organization standard of 1:600. Medical practitioners are over stressed believe it or not. You need to visit the outpatient clinics in the General and Teaching Hospitals,then, you might have an idea of what we are talking about
We keep talking about brain drains,but, is it not better, than for medical doctors to be brain dead? As a medical professional, you are as good as brain dead when you know what to do for a patient to get well, but, you do not have the required resources. In the last 4 years, an estimated 2,701 doctors left this country according to the a Minister for Health and many more are still leaving. As far as I am concerned, the situation is so deplorable that there are no equipment to work with in most of the hospitals. I have seen patients die just because there was no oxygen supply in a hospital in this country. I have seen premature babies die because there are no incubators and even when, you can get one, the deposit you will be asked to make can give you heart attack.

There are 2 Teaching Hospitals in Lagos for instance(LUTH and LASUTH) and we must commend the Lagos State Government for investing so much in upgrading the facilities at LASUTH. The Teaching Hospitals are really trying their best and a few private hospitals that appears to be the saving grace are overcrowded and the usual song when you transfer your patients or relatives there is "there is no bed space". So, where do you take your patients to? Home! Or just wait and watch them die?
What about investigations? The world is already talking about MRIs and CT Scans which are readily available in developed world,but, very expensive in Nigeria. Infact, the latest 1.5 power MRI machine would require 24 hours power supply to operate because of the sensitivity. How many Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria as at today will you find MRI or CT Scan machines? Even where they are available, maintenance is a big problem because of over utilization. So, the machines are always breaking down.
It's so sad and sickening when we as Nigerians fly to overseas to treat Malaria Fever and even do minor surgeries such as Appendicectomy. Are we saying that the Foreigners know how to treat Malaria more than us living in a Malaria endemic environment? Are we saying that General Surgeons in Nigeria are not competent enough to perform minor surgeries? Or we actually fly out because of oversea allowances or for some other reason? Maybe, our people simply do not believe in the health systems any longer.
Good healthcare is not a luxury, it's a necessity! And we as a community need to join hands in providing adequate healthcare. I stand to be corrected, but, I do not believe Nigeria does not have the resources to build a world class medical center.
Your comments and contributions will be appreciated and you can send email to dr231125@gmail.com.
We will continue next week. Stay blessed.