Arise O Compatriots because after sixty-two years after Nigeria’s independence, we still do not have the healthcare management system of our dreams. Our current system still plagued by strikes, unhealthy professional rivalry, inadequate facilities, poor working conditions and the list goes on.
A critical examination of our current Healthcare Management system does not make for a pleasant prognosis. It is even more worrisome that the present stochastic services have encouraged unprecedented brain drain. Many Healthcare Practioners are religiously seeking greener pastures in climes where things work, where they can get better remuneration and fulfil their God-given aspirations.
In the light of the crippling challenges confronting the Healthcare system, we, the current executives at Nigeria Medical Association in Lagos Zone are determined to ensure that the labour of our heroes past shall not be in vain. To this end, it is our firm belief that our three-pronged focal agenda on The Lagos Doctor, Lagosians and Lagos Healthcare System will move the needle in creating a system that works for everyone.
The import of this tripartite trajectory is that the welfare of Lagos Doctors would be top notch and reasonably encouraging enough to keep their services, the Lagos people would be the cardinal focus of Lagos Healthcare system, there will be patriotic advocacy for the improvement of Lagos Healthcare System through various Public-Private-Partnership particularly in Semi Urban and Rural Areas.
The Lagos state government must prioritize local and foreign training of doctors and other health care personnel. This will further stem the exodus of doctors and other health care personnel to foreign shores.
Permit me to emphasize that it’s time for the Lagos State Government to immediately revitalize and improve all the Primary Healthcare Centers in Lagos State including the rural areas. This will bring quality healthcare to the average Lagosian even in the outskirts of Lagos. Also, it will go a long way in arresting the already decimated systems in these largely forgotten areas of Lagos State.
There is need for improved investment in infrastructure in the sector. This and other laudable innovations can be achieved with improved budgetary allocation to health to fifteen percent in line with the Abuja declaration in 2001.
We would like to state emphatically that we are altruistically ready for any partnership that will positively improve the health status of Nigerians particularly Lagosians. We know the most laudable vehicle for attaining the Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria is through the National Health Insurance Act. We must commend states that have already domesticated the Act but we want to encourage all other states to join in the domestication of the Act.
This is to also encourage the Lagos State Health Management Authority to intensify more efforts through deliberate partnerships with relevant stakeholders particularly Non-Governmental Organizations in advocating for Lagosians to enrol in the very laudable Lagos State Health Insurance Scheme (Ilera Eko).
Health Insurance Scheme has proven to be the surest route to more accessibility to healthcare facilities and patients’ management system even in developed nations.
In the past, different governments have invested heavily in the management of Communicable diseases. But unfortunately, we have had our fair debilitating share of the various complications resulting from the infection of Ebola, Lassa Fever, Covid-19, now Monkey Pox. This is a pointer that as a nation we must have a strategic National Medical Disaster Plan that will help us to be more proactive than reactive.
It is also important we also have a strategic Medical Mitigating Blueprint that alleviates the sufferings of our citizens more importantly the aged suffering from non-communicable diseases such as Hypertension and Diabetes. The cost of medications is presently at cut-throat prices due to very high import customs duties. Health matters should be more for altruistic purposes and not necessarily pecuniary interests as it is the present case with the importation of drugs.
It is expedient for the National Orientation Agency wake up responsively to its duty and begin to escalate the enlightenment on the new National Health Insurance Act, NHIA in different Nigerian languages. So that access to healthcare becomes the right and opportunities for every citizen in Nigeria.
To build a nation where Heathcare for All irrespective of tribe, creed, religious and political affiliation shall reign is possible. We now have opportunity to reverse the prevailing brain drain and improve our healthcare system for the benefit of Nigerians. It is possible and Yes We Can!
Thank you.
Long Live Lagos!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Dr Benjamin Oluwatosin Adesoji Olowojebutu
Chairman
Nigeria Medical Association
Lagos Zone.
