Frightening Crisis in the Health Sector
Some bits and pieces on what the Presidency will spend in 2018 contained in the budget presented to the National Assembly few days back are upsetting. I find some of the expenses listed for the operation of the Presidency ridiculous. I was waiting for Buhari’s legion of media aides to issue denials, but none came. The first thing that startled me was the N17.4 million to be spent on buying household and kitchen items like crested plates, tea cups, cutleries and serving basins for the Vice President. Haba! They must be golden kitchen items. Do we need to remind the Presidency that there were budgetary provisions for these same items last year? What happened to the items? Or, is it that such household and kitchen items are thrown away at the end of every financial year? Why should they be buying tea cups, cutleries and plates every year? Something is clearly shifty somewhere. I am still searching for the figures allocated to President Buhari for household and kitchen items in 2018. It will surely also be boggling.
Another proposed Presidency expenditure that attracted my attention was the N1.001 billion Buhari will spend on travels in 2018. Of this sum, N751.3 million would be used for international travels, and N250.02 million for local travels. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will spend N301.04 million on general travel - N217.06 million for international travels and N83.97 million for local travels. Put together, Buhari and Osinbajo are jointly proposing to spend N1.3 billion on travels in 2018 amid hunger in our land. This is aside the cost of maintaining the 10 aircraft in the Presidential fleet for these travels.
Again, the Presidency is always buying vehicles yearly. It seems vehicles in Aso Rock are used for just a year and discarded. This is why the Presidency proposed to spend N907 million on acquisitions of new vehicles and spare parts in 2018. An additional N83 million will be spent on tyres for the vehicles in Aso Rock.
The budget sets aside N986.91 million for “miscellaneous” expenses in the State House, while general utility services will gulp N476.87 million. Electricity charge is N274.79 million and N67.11 million is for internet. Why should almost N1 billion be set aside for “miscellaneous” expenses. For me, this sum proposed is huge and should not be captured as “miscellaneous” expenses. These expenses should be clearly situated for transparency sake. Using the term, “miscellaneous expenses” has always been a tactics for hiding questionable things. Things have clearly not changed in the Presidency with the sustenance of this tactics.
I am also worried that the notorious State House Medical Centre has N1.03 billion set aside from it in budget 2018. This is the same medical centre that could not account for about N3.6 billion allocated to it in 2016. It could also not provide ordinary syringe despite the funds allocated to it in 2017. For all its inefficiency, it got a pat on the back with N1.03 billion allocation in budget 2018. What a country. Since Buhari, Osinbajo and their families don’t use this clinic, this administration ought to spend quality time overhauling this centre instead of allocating more money to it.
Let’s flip to repairs of Aso Rock buildings. The Presidency will spend N4.86 billion for “annual routine maintenance of mechanical/electrical installations”. Yes, almost N5 billion to maintain mechanical and electrical installations. So, how much was initially spent to install the mechanical/electrical installations, to warrant an expenditure of N4.86 billion for maintenance? There are so many questions begging for answers. There is still profligacy in the Presidency as can be seen in budget 2018 proposals, despite this administration’s orchestrated war against corruption. Our dear President has to show conspicuous commitment to this war against corruption. Things have not changed in the Presidency.
Authorities in our dear country have to take pragmatic steps to curb the persistent exodus of our best medical doctors. Hospitals, both public and private, are battling with inadequate doctors. I am shocked that Health Minister, Isaac Adewole, is yet to respond to the frightening statistics reeled out by the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association on this crunch. According to the gory data rolled out almost two weeks ago, more than 40,000 of the 75,000 registered Nigerian doctors are now practicing abroad while most of those still in the country are working on getting jobs abroad. The NMA went further to inform the nation that over 100 doctors resigned from the University College Hospital, Ibadan, this year. About 800 doctors resigned from Lagos State public hospitals in the last two years, and over 50 this month alone.
The Chairman, Lagos NMA, Olumuyiwa Odusote laments: “Kebbi State has been unable to employ a single doctor in two years despite multiple adverts for employment; over 200 doctors and nurses have resigned from Ladoke Akintola Teaching Hospital this year. Seventy per cent of Nigerian doctors are making plans to leave for foreign lands and are taking exams to that effect. The health crisis in Nigeria is unprecedented as the mass exodus hits an alarming proportion.
“Our healthcare system has been neglected for an extended period, evidenced by lack of funding, under-supply, inefficiency, decrepit equipment, poor quality, needless deaths and unhappy workforce. Today, many of the country’s general hospitals are not in good condition and are breeding grounds for infectious diseases. Many also do not have sufficient beds; so, corridors are turned to sleeping wards. The fatigued and overworked doctors are committing errors. The nation needs 303,333 medical doctors now and 10,605 new doctors annually to provide good quality patient care.”
Clearly, exodus of doctors from Nigeria has reached an alarming proportion. Our hospitals are bleeding. To keep our doctors, NMA recommended better facilities and work environment, higher remuneration, career progression and professional advancement. The Lagos NMA also recommended an increase in the number of public health centres, fully equipped with adequate drugs and modern facilities and manned by specialists.
Unfortunately, those who should be taking note are unperturbed. These people in authority care less because they travel abroad for medicals. That was why allocation to the health sector in the proposed 2018 budget was a paltry 3.9 per cent. The majority who can’t afford foreign medicals must rise and fight coldblooded politicians running Nigeria.