Nigeria @ 55: Knocks for Buhari over silence on health of Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Independence Day address was too brief and leaves “a lot to be desired” for health, the Commonwealth Medical Association has said. Vice President of the association Dr Osahon Enabulele said he was “pained” Buhari’s address did not contain “even a passing comment” on the health of Nigerians. The speech touched on insurgency, […]

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Independence Day address was too brief and leaves “a lot to be desired” for health, the Commonwealth Medical Association has said.

Vice President of the association Dr Osahon Enabulele said he was “pained” Buhari’s address did not contain “even a passing comment” on the health of Nigerians.

The speech touched on insurgency, power supply and anti-corruption campaign, but CMA expected Buhari to affirm commitment to the health of Nigerians.

It caused “distress”, according to Enabulele, immediate past president of the Nigerian Medical Association, that President Buhari did not use his broadcast to affirm commitment to effective use of public health facilities by government officials in effort to shore up support.

“As a Nigerian, I expected him to make a firm declaration that he, members of his lovely family and all political and public office holders shall henceforth utilize available healthcare facilities in Nigeria, and would only be sponsored abroad for medical care, at the country’s expense, in line with the provisions of the National Health Act,” he said.

Enabulele said evidence of poor political commitment to health care was poor use of health facilities by political leaders and public office holders, fuelling medical tourism which costs the country an estimated $1 billion annually.

“Rather than utilize public health facilities they claim to have constructed in their communities, and therefore inspire citizens within their jurisdiction to do same, most of Nigeria’s political and public office holders take delight in travelling abroad for medical care under government sponsorship and at the expense of tax payers,” he said.

“Truly, Mr. President must lead the way in abandoning the era where the health sector is used only as an electioneering campaign tool, which is hastily abandoned soon after they are elected into office, with insensitivity to the declining health status and socio-economic conditions of the people.”

Enabulele urged President Buhari to make a public policy statement about halting medical tourism and giving full effect to the National Health Act as part of his ongoing anti-graft campaign.”