There is no doubt that Nigeria’s health sector remains a mix match of positives and negatives. The sector has overtime produced one of the best professionals on the continent and the recruitment of professionals by other countries remains a testament to this fact.
However, poor investment in the sector is evident and a major bane with successive governments doing little or nothing to improve the sector, rather leaving it in shambles. Unfortunately, this has led to a trend where Nigeria’s leaders embark on medical tourism to other countries to receive medical attention
The trend of Nigerian presidents seeking medical treatment abroad started with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who spent days in the United States for medical reasons during his presidency. His successor, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, spent several months in Saudi Arabia for medical treatment before he passed away in 2010. Goodluck Jonathan also traveled abroad a number of times for medical treatment during his presidency. Muhammadu Buhari, the outgoing president has spent over 170 days in the United Kingdom for medical reasons during his tenure, further entrenching the trend.
The President-elect, Bola Tinubu going by his antecedents is known to have abandoned private medical care in Lagos and has often favoured traveling outside the country to tend to his health.
The last time he travelled to the United Kingdom for a knee surgery and his abode in the United Kingdom became the “Mecca” for several political figures in the country.
This reminds me of a time during General Babangida’s reign, when he went off to France for a foot surgery. He entertained all forms of dignitaries from Nigeria and in so doing, Nigeria’s foreign exchange was being depleted with impunity. Because Every time leaders embark on these excesses, the taxpayers’ money (escrow) is wasted because almost always, the delegation that goes along on such trips puts financial burden on the nation.
The last disappearance and return of President-elect, Bola Tinubu has only fuelled further speculations that he may have embarked on another medical tourism – howbeit, there is no substantial evidence to prove that.
Also, for the sake of Nigeria, we wish him good health.
Regardless, it is unfortunate that Nigeria’s leaders have consistently refused to pay adequate attention to the country’s healthcare system, even though they have the power to improve it. Their frequent medical trips abroad have not only exposed the country’s healthcare system’s weakness but also made the citizens feel like second-class citizens in their own country.
For instance, one would wonder why former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu would have abandoned medical treatment for his daughter in Nigeria where he is a respected lawmaker to have an £80,000 procedure in the United Kingdom. There is no better vote of “no confidence” in the heath sector than the medical tour of Nigerian politicians.
The question now is whether Bola Tinubu, the President-elect, would follow in the footsteps of his predecessors or break the cycle by investing in the country’s healthcare system.
