By Emmanuel Urhiofe – Medical tourism has been slammed as major dilemma of the Nigeria medical solution. This claim was made by WHO expert Dr Oviemo Ovadje (OFR) who criticised previous Nigerian government for not investing seriously in the health care sector and leaving it in shambles.
The medical experts noted that one of the reasons why the military took over the government from the civilian regime in Nigeria in 1983 was the state of the healthcare sectors which were referred to as ‘mere consulting clinics’. He noted that the health sector was almost a shadow of its former self by the time the military returned to their barracks in 1999. Dr Ovadje maintained that only the rich can now afford to pay for exclusive and specialised health care in Nigeria.
UPU National President Chief (Barrister) Emmanuel Ganiga and Chief Austin Ididia
He said: “Our tertiary institutions are mere shadows of what they were at Nigeria’s independence in the 1960’s. Only few and privileged citizens have access to services at tertiary and private institutions. Even the few and privileged citizens who have the wealth to patronise these tertiary institutions have their preferences in foreign countries due to their new phenomenon of the so called “medical tourism”. Dr Ovadje who was the first African winner of the World Health Organisation Gold award in Geneva, Switzerland in 2000, said the huge amount spent on this medical tourism can be used to acquire the medical expertise, research and scientific technological development, innovations, structures and equipment which can enable the country advance and improve on its Medicare as is presently done in the Asian countries such as China. The medical luminary who has won five presidential awards under every Nigerian president from 1992 to 2014 said medical tourism has contributed to the loss of billions of hard currencies which had further drained the national purse. He listed four major factors affecting the health care sectors. These include lack of confidence in the Nigerian health system, lack of necessary health facilities, ignorance and poor management of the health facilities and finally equipment dumping.
Dr Ovadje made these revelations at the 11th annual convention of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) UK branch, which took place at the Rivers of Life Church off Ilderton Road, southeast London, on the 26th August 2018.
Referring to the death of President Yar’ Adua, the medical expert said the late president died as a result of brain drain caused by severe asphyxia due to ignorance and poor management. He added that there is total lack of accountability with regard to monies spent on medical tourism. “For example, our President cannot tell the nation how much is spent by the presidency on health care abroad.”
The speech read by former National President of the UPU, UK branch, Mr Paul Akpofure, praised the efforts of South Africa which hardly undertake medical tourism like Nigeria. Mr Ovadje noted that President Mandela could have been flown out of his country to the UK or somewhere in North America if he were a Nigerian, adding that President Mandela created structures to support national health challenges to cover his people including himself in old age before his death in 2013
The UPU Convention itself was colourful with the attendance of many dignitaries including the King of Agbon Kingdom, HRM Ogurimerime, the Ukori 1, Council of Urhobo Chiefs, UK , community leaders, the Edo Progress Union UK, the Isoko Association of UK, Urhobo Women Associations in the UK, and the Delta Forum UK.
Welcoming guests to the auspicious occasion, the national president of the UPU UK Branch Chief (Barrister) Emmanuel Ganiga, thanked guests for creating time to attend the ceremony and pleaded with them to support the UPU scholarship programme which has seen a total of 48 Urhobo youths in various tertiary institutions in Nigeria benefitting.
The highlight of the occasion was a cultural dance performance by the Urhobo UPU women dance troupe followed by a spectacular music performance by foremost Urhobo music legend Chief Okpan Arhibo, which took the party to the early hours of the bank holiday Monday 27th August, 2018.
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