LETTER TO THE EDITOR
This article is borne out of the fact that
the value system of our nation has been misplaced.1 We have failed
in virtually every area as a nation, as it relates to nation building.2,3
We have celebrated mediocrity and left out the things that should matter most;
in this context health.4
As a nation, hard work
and excellent are no longer rewarded; hooliganism, kidnapping and banditry are
means of extorting resources and funds from our government.5 Those that pursue excellence have been neglected.6
No wonder the nation- Nigeria has one of the worst health indices globally. An examples is the alarming maternal and perinatal mortalities
in Nigeria. In addition, brain drain amongst health professional in Nigeria is
indeed worrisome because, majority of the workforce in the health sectors are
migrating outside the shores of the country for various reasons. Some of these
reasons include better
remuneration, security and better quality of life for them and their families.1-2
With Nigerian
population of over 200million, health professionals are in short demand to meet
the health challenges of the nation.1-4 This cuts across community
medicine, dentistry, orthopaedics, psychiatry, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology
and all other specialties.1,3-7
It is pathetic that
most of our junior and senior colleagues can no longer attend conferences, both
home and abroad as a result of sponsorship or lack of funds.1-4Grants
for research are near impossible to access because the governments are not
interested in research funding.8-11
The government of
Nigeria should implement the following
·
Through the legislature pass bill to favour grants for research in health care.
·
Enable health professionals to have access to
funds to attend conferences locally and internationally to be abreast of
international best practices.
·
Pass bills in favour
of safe motherhood; targeting reduction of maternal and perinatal mortalities.
·
Make the hinterlands accessible and safe for
community health worker in terms of security and conducible working
environment.
·
Make funds accessible to epidemiologist and
clinical researchers who are interested in carrying out researches with regards
to outbreak and prevention of communicable diseases.
·
Partnering with non-government organizations,
community health workers in dissemination of health information and prevention
of disease conditions.
·
Encouraging specialization and subspecializaion by releasing funds for training and retraining
of health personnel in all medical fields.
·
In this covid-19 pandemic, government of
Nigeria should partner both at the local and international levels to encourage
the production of covid-19 vaccines locally to meet up with international
standards.
·
Equipping of health facilities across the
country making them affordable, accessible for all and sundry. This saves funds
from medical tourism elsewhere.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion if the above recommendations
are welcomed by policy makers, with a strong political will by the government
of Nigeria then most of the alarming health indices in Nigeria beginning with
the high maternal and perinatal mortalities will drastically be reduced.
Furthermore, the outcome of these local researches will invariably be
transformed into national health policies with positive health impact.
Acknowledgement;
Mother, Baby and Adolescent Care Global Foundation
(Previously Mother and Baby Care Global Foundation).
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