Ondo Medical facilities adequate to treat president Buhari. -Akin Akinbobola (Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor)
The Decision of President Muhamadu Buhari to embark on Medical trip to London for Ear infection treatment is no good news, it’s implications on the Nigerian economy is negative.
One would expect, at this critical period in Nigeria, that the president lives by his widely publicised and acclaimed words as expressed in the Punch Newspaper of 27th April, 2016. “While this administration will not deny anyone of his or her fundamental human rights, we will certainly not encourage expending Nigerian hard earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad, when such can be handled in Nigeria”. It would have gone a long way in demonstrating responsible Governance if the ‘body language’ of the president is in consonant with the proclaimed policy of APC government when it assumed power. Nigeria is in a period when the talk for diversifying the economy is high, we also talking about patronage to made-in-Nigeria goods and services, the president is expected to demonstrate high sense of leadership and patriotic zeal on like matters, with a view to building confidence of the citizenry and even the international community on Nigerian services.
It is very unfortunate that our president and his Party are treating and portraying our own services and goods as substandard, and available just for the less privileged only.
According to the vice president of Commonwealth Medical Association, Dr Enabulele Osahon, he said it’s a shame of immense proportion that the president had to be recommended for foreign medical care despite the presence of over 250 ENT specialists and professors of repute in Nigeria. A fundamental question that is begging for answer, which category of people is the National Ear Centre located in Kaduna state meant for.?
Good and very up-to date facilities abound in Nigeria that can handle such ailment. Ondo State today is proud to have state of the art Tertiary medical institutions. These hospitals receive referrals from Teaching Hospitals within the Nations with facilities. it’s worthy of note to mention that the medical village in Ondo gets referrals from abroad. Mr President could have used Ondo State medical facilities for treatment. Except he is biased about Ondo State being a PDP state. however, i think, issues bothering on health treatment are just too sensitive and should not be politically premised.
One wonders what exactly is the job of the Minister of Health? He is supposed to have records of facilities and medical professionals we have across this country.
In the 2016 Budget, according to Premium Times of February 2, 2016, the State House Hospital in Abuja alone received the sum of N787million more than all the 16 teaching hospitals in the country. If despite these huge budgetary provision for Govt House Clinic, Buhari would still be refered to London for treatment, the Minister for Health accordingly should rather resign from the job and apologise to Nigerians.
The President is expected at this period when the Nation is suffering from serious foreign exchange deficit to play a leadership model by patronizing Nigerian goods and services, especially where we have internationally competitive and reputable services in health provision. This is a good way to demonstrate his confidence in the Nigerian Nation of today..
Good people of Nigeria! What Hope For Poor Nigerians Who Can’t Afford To Travel.
‘May God save this Country’
Akin Akinbobola.
Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor.