Dear President Buhari,<\/p>\n
First and foremost, I write this letter to wish you well in your recovery
\nand to show you my warm support. I owe you that much as a citizen of
\nNigeria.<\/p>\n
Sir, since this recovery period offers you ample opportunity for solitude,
\nthoughtful reflections, and introspection, I would like, with this medium
\nto bring some issues in the nation\u2019s health sector to your attention,
\nbecause each of these issues falls within the sphere of your executive
\ninfluence, which if you exert would bring full closure to all of them.<\/p>\n
Mr President, I see a big window of opportunity for your government to
\nmake a lot of difference in rebuilding the collapsed health care system of
\nthis country, especially now with the introduction of Primary Health Care
\nRevitalisation Programme by your Health Minister, 70% of the disease
\nburden in Nigeria that falls under the purview of primary health care and
\nwhat is needed is sustained commitment to infrastructural development in
\nthat stratum of the health sector.<\/p>\n
Sir, if you give primary health care the attention it deserves, and you
\nput up the about 10,000 functional primary health care centres across the
\ncountry as the Health Minister , has promised on your behalf at different
\nfora, all our health care indices, principal among which are Maternal
\nMortality Rate and Infant and Under five Mortality rates would drastically
\nimprove and you will go down in history as the President that made that
\nhappen. On the other hand you would have successfully improved the health
\nstatus and quality of life of millions of Nigerians.<\/p>\n
I am equally hopeful that if the robust and cost efficient National Health
\nAgenda the Health ministers have been promoting which is to deliver basic
\nhealth care on a sustained basis to about 100 million Nigerians in the
\nnext 2 years is given prompt presidential assent and direct political
\nsupport from your esteemed office, Nigerians would sing a new song before
\n2019. As a matter of fact, I simply conclude that you already have a tool
\nin your Health ministers , your need is political will to use that tool
\nespecially in the actualization of Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria;
\nan agenda of the Health Ministry .<\/p>\n
Of vital importance also is the rising prevalence of cancer in the
\ncountry. Seeking cancer treatment abroad is as a matter of fact one of the
\npointed reasons for medical tourism which costs Nigeria about 1.5 to 2
\nBillion U.S Dollars annually. My father is 74, just less than a year older
\nthan you. He had a prostate cancer screening lately and it was negative.
\nHe came clean. Countless Nigerians are not that lucky. It always happens
\nthat when cancer strikes, there is hardly anywhere to turn to for help.
\nOnly the National Hospital Abuja and another private hospital have
\nfunctional linear accelerators for Radiotherapy (a treatment modality for
\ncancer) and those machines are suffering from extreme overuse.\u00a0 We are a
\ncountry of between 160-170 Million people. This is worrisome.<\/p>\n
Your administration needs to keep faith with the people by seeing this
\nsordid reality for what it is and act in the best interest of the people.
\nMany Senators, both within the ruling party and the opposition in the
\nNational Assembly are of the opinion that cancer diagnosis and treatment
\ncentres of excellence should be established in each of the six
\ngeopolitical zones in the country. Mr President, you should make this an
\nexecutive priority, and set up a Presidential task force in this regard.
\nYou already have a lot of people around you who have proven expertise in
\nthis area and are willing to do a good job.<\/p>\n
Regarding Medical tourism, I strongly believe we can drastically reduce
\nthis disturbing trend which is constantly removing heavy amount of forex
\nfrom our already contracting economy. We need home grown solutions to all
\nour medical challenges.<\/p>\n
It is therefore highly imperative that your government drive public
\nprivate partnership to foster the building and operation of highly
\nsophisticated and efficient Medical infrastructures across the country.
\nThe need for Private Investors Participation on a large scale has become
\nvery obvious and necessary. This would largely curb the trend of medical
\ntourism in the country. We can definitely turn our pain to gain in this
\nregard.<\/p>\n
Similarly, the chaotic and charged atmosphere in the health sector has
\nremained perennially; strikes are always coming at a diabolical
\nregularity; doctors and other allied health workers are always at dagger
\ndrawn with themselves. This menace has weakened the health sector
\nsignificantly over the years. Issues of unpaid remuneration is also
\nnagging and causing unending industrial disputes<\/p>\n
Mr President, I am fully aware of the serious macroeconomic condition we
\nare faced with in the country at the moment, however, I want to implore
\nyou to show your revered leadership again in this matter. I strongly feel
\nyou and your team should wade in and do your best in resolving these
\ncrises.<\/p>\n
The health ministry’s outing during the last Lassa Fever Outbreak is very
\ncommendable and this level of emergency and disaster management should not
\nbe allowed to slide down but there should be continuous improvement.<\/p>\n
Sir, there are your pictures administering vaccines to children on
\ncountless billboards nationwide. Our nation\u2019s vaccination programmes are
\nbecoming more effective but we must be persistent till all vaccine
\npreventable illnesses are eliminated from within our boundaries.<\/p>\n
I also think Prof Isaac Adewole , your Health Minister who has
\ndemonstrated efficiency and positive connect with various unions in the
\nmedical sector should be made to utilize his own experience in positive
\nactivism to work out an amicable solution to these recurring crises the
\nmore. A reformed health sector would benefit everyone, and the agitations
\nfor increased remuneration would be automatically taken care of if we
\nbegin to operate by different sets of rules in the sector.<\/p>\n
We must eliminate corruption from the health sector. I am gratified that
\nProfessor Adewole was the first public servant in your employment who
\ndemonstrated a rare courage by pointing out the menacing issue of budget
\npadding, a singular action that saved the entire country of humongous
\namount of money that some corrupt cabals would have fleeced the country
\nof.<\/p>\n
Mr President, if we fail to get a positive result with the combination of
\nProf Isaac Folorunso Adewole, an outstanding health administrator and Dr
\nOsagie Ehanire, a renowned surgeon, then we might not get it right again.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, the current policy direction of the Health Ministry is very
\nreassuring. Hence, I write this letter to lobby you to ensure that all the
\nissues raised are given the necessary attention they deserve and full
\nimplementation of your health agenda.<\/p>\n
I wish you perfect health Mr President.<\/p>\n
God bless Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Respectfully yours,<\/p>\n
Dr Adesiyan Olufunmibi\u00a0 \u00a0(General Practitioner)<\/p>\n
Lagos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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