Buhari ‘lacks faith’ in Nigeria’s health system, says BBC
BBC has included President Muhammadu Buhari in the category of five African presidents who have “an apparent lack of faith in the health systems at home”.
Presidents Abdelaziz Bouteflika (Algeria), Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe), Jose Eduardo dos Santos (Angola) and Patrice Talon (Benin) were the other ones listed.
But the Nigerian leader was described as the “first among equals” in terms of time spent abroad getting medical help.
In the report, BBC quoted Naziru Mikailu, its Abuja editor, as saying the public health system in Nigeria is terrible because of poor funding.
After spending 49 days in the United Kingdom earlier in the year, Buhari returned to the country on May 7 and has been there since.
The Nigerian leader did not make a single public appearance in the first two months of his current trip.
But he has been receiving guest of recent, a sign that his health condition has improved.
When he hosted his media team during the weekend, the president expressed his desire to return home.
“I feel I could go home, but the doctors are in charge. I’ve now learnt to obey orders, rather than be obeyed,” Femi Adesina, Buhari’s spokesman, quoted him as saying.
“I’ve learnt to obey my doctor’s orders, rather than be the one issuing the orders. Here, the doctor is absolutely in charge.”
It is sad commentary that our president who came in on the mantra of change feel so comfortable to run abroad for medical attention at the slightest opportunity rather than setting in motion an overhaul and a complete upgrade of our health system.
We have the manpower, for Nigerian doctors are all over the world performing great feats, so why can’t we just see what obtains in advanced nations in terms of facilities and management and replicate the same here? Funds, I hear someone scream! How much has the President and his other public officers donated to Great Britain and the like for consultations and treatment in many years neglect of the health sector? Unimaginable you would say!! Apparently there is no vision or will to make the change… And that’s the main issue!
Its either you bring the hospital to PMB or you close down the whole hospital for him alone for security reasons in Nigeria. It was much better for him to go abroad for treatment.