ADVERTISEMENT
The Sun Nigeria
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun
No Result
View All Result
The Sun Nigeria
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Ley Your Dreams Come Alive – With FCMB Loans
Home Features

Rising deaths: COVID-19 is trigger, Nigeria’s weak health system is killer

1st February 2021
in Features
0
Rising deaths: COVID-19 is trigger, Nigeria’s weak health system is  killer
0
SHARES
166
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Laz Ude Eze

A couple of days ago, the co-founder of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, counsel was widely reported in the Nigerian media to have counselled the government of Nigeria to prioritise the development and strengthening of its health sector rather than focusing on the COVID-19 vaccines.
“There is no doubt that the impact of putting money into the health system, particularly the primary healthcare system, will be very high in terms of saving children’s lives. Nigeria should not divert the very limited money that it has for health into trying to pay a high price for COVID-19 vaccines,” Mr. Gates said in response to a question on Nigeria’s plan to invest about N400 billion to vaccinate 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population at $8 per vaccine.
On January 15, 2021, I had written a short piece titled, “Which one kills more? COVID-19 and Dysfunctional Health System?” In the article, I wrote, “Many deaths of influential Nigerians have occurred in the past few months. They were reported to be caused by COVID-19. While they may have COVID-19 infection, the fact is that many of them would have survived it if our hospitals are working optimally. Our dysfunctional hospitals and clinics have been killing many poor people over the years. The rich and influential personalities are becoming victims because the pandemic has essentially halted medical tourism to developed countries. The rich can no longer jet out of the country for medical treatment as they used to. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity for us to make our hospital work for everyone everywhere in Nigeria.”
Within the past one month (29th December 2020 to 29th January 2021), an additional 280 Nigerians were reportedly killed by COVID-19, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (from 1,267 to 1,547 deaths). That’s the highest since the pandemic started. Some of them died because of delayed treatment partially caused by lack of a functional medical emergency management system in most parts of the country. Other possible contributors to the rising deaths include the lack of oxygen in many hospitals and COVID-19 treatment centres, low health literacy among the populace, inadequate personal protection equipment (PPE) for health workers, low hazard allowance and poor welfare of health workers, politicization of the pandemic, etc. One can only imagine the psychological trauma experienced by the families and friends of the deceased failed by our weak health sector. They are in my thoughts and prayers.
One must be honest, I believe the COVID-19 pandemic could have been managed better by the Nigerian authorities. The government at the state and LGA levels should have empowered a virile technical committee led and largely populated by competent public health experts to lead the response. Such a technical team would have liaised with other health administrators to leverage on the pandemic and strengthen the primary health care system. Unfortunately, it has been politicized in some states and allegedly made a conduit pipe for looting of public funds in others. This has eroded the little public confidence that existed hitherto.
Consequently, I agree in toto with Bill Gates. How can we justify spending two-thirda of the total 2021 budget of the Federal Ministry of Health on procurement of COVID-19 vaccines alone? N400 billion is 241% of the N166 billion allocated for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) between 2018 and 2021, out of which only about N27 billion has been reportedly released. COVID-19 is real and must be contained. However, it is not the only killer disease in Nigeria. It is also not among the top 10 killer diseases in the country, going by the official morbidity and mortality data. Malaria, HIV/AIDS, cancer, pneumonia, diarrhea diseases, pregnancy-related events, severe acute malnutrition, road traffic injuries kill more people. Therefore, a disproportionate use of Nigeria’s scarce resources for the largely ineffective COVID-19 response while the weak health sector keeps claiming more lives is unjustifiable, to say the least.
Rather, the N400b should be used to strengthen primary health care and support local pharmaceutical companies and researchers to manufacture vaccines and other health commodities in Nigeria. This will not only improve the health of the nation but also contribute significantly to national economic growth.
Please, permit me to reiterate as I have consistently done in the recent past that the COVID-19 pandemic provides a golden opportunity for strengthening Nigeria’s health sector. Available resources should be utilized efficiently and an integrated approach must be deployed to make the health sector stronger. It has been alleged in some quarters that some recent decisions in the health sector may have been influenced by parochial interests for the benefit of a few vested interests. I pray it is not true. I believe the Nigerian people can help to change the narrative; we have the responsibility to hold our leaders accountable and drive the change we desire from the community level. The Make Our Hospital Work Campaign, launched on June 15, 2020, provides a platform and template for citizen-led community action to strengthen the health sector from the primary care level. From the Okposi community in Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi State to the Ogugu community in Olamaboro LGA of Kogi State, citizens are organizing themselves to make their hospitals work. I strongly encourage well-meaning Nigerians to get involved, let’s build from the bottom to the top. We are lucky that COVID-19 is less lethal in Africa compared to the other parts of the world. We may not be that lucky should another epidemic or pandemic occur in the future.
In conclusion, COVID-19 is a major challenge in the health sector that must be tackled but we don’t have to deploy most of the available resources to it and neglect what causes more deaths. When the health sector becomes stronger, many lives shall be saved, not only from COVID-19 but from other infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases and medical emergencies. A strong political will must be demonstrated at all levels of governance to make our hospitals work; and the citizens must help to make this possible through sustainable advocacy and community actions. God bless Nigeria!

100% Natural Herbs to Finally End Premature Ejaculation, Weak Erection and Small Manhood. >>>Click Here for Details<<< .

•Dr. Eze, a health policy and management expert is founder/CEO of TalkHealth9ja and convener of Make Our Hospitals Work Campaign; @donlaz4u, [email protected]

Are you a Man 40 yrs and above? Do not miss the Vital Information, it goes off in 2 days! CLICH HERE to READ .
Tags: covid-19healthkillerNigeria’s weakRising deaths:systemtrigger
Cyril

Cyril

Related Posts

Umahi raises the alarm on plots to incite war in South East
Features

2023: Why Nigerians should support president of South East extraction –Umahi

23rd May 2022
No conflict between Bauchi, Gombe over oil discovery –Gov. Mohammed
Features

2023 PDP ticket: What’s going for Bala Mohammed

23rd May 2022
2023:  Ex-APC, PDP stalwarts see alternative in NNPP
Features

2023: Ex-APC, PDP stalwarts see alternative in NNPP

22nd May 2022
Next Post
Senate mandates committees to investigate NEMA on disaster response activities

PIB’s long walk to fruition

Coronavirus: No suspected, confirmed case in Lagos – LASG

Lagos bans land extension, reclamation on Banana Island, Osborne Foreshore

Flykite mourns Nigerian boxer, Dodo

Flykite mourns Nigerian boxer, Dodo

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT

Highlights

Road to 2023: Kaduna APC governorship aspirant petitions INEC over alleged non-conduct of delegates’ primaries

Relocation of Alaba-Rago Market: Lagos warns against false alarm

NSIA posts N153.56 billion profit, net assets hit N919.73 billion

Road to 2023: Tegbe, Ilaka, Wolekanle emerge as PDP senatorial candidates in Oyo

Road to 2023: Upset in Bayelsa as incumbent House of Reps member loses ticket

Road to 2023: Uche Okonkwo lauds Soludo for ensuring unity of aspirants

Trending

Lekki killing: DSS, police debunk purported DSS staff report
National

Lekki killing: DSS, police debunk purported DSS staff report

23rd May 2022
0

By Christopher Oji, Lagos The Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have...

Road to 2023: Ned Nwoko emerges Delta North PDP candidate

Road to 2023: Ned Nwoko emerges Delta North PDP candidate

23rd May 2022
Ortom gets PDP senatorial ticket for Benue North West

Ortom gets PDP senatorial ticket for Benue North West

23rd May 2022
Road to 2023: Kaduna APC governorship aspirant petitions INEC over alleged non-conduct of delegates' primaries

Road to 2023: Kaduna APC governorship aspirant petitions INEC over alleged non-conduct of delegates’ primaries

23rd May 2022
Relocation of Alaba-Rago Market: Lagos warns against false alarm

Relocation of Alaba-Rago Market: Lagos warns against false alarm

23rd May 2022

Follow us on social media:

Latest News

  • Lekki killing: DSS, police debunk purported DSS staff report
  • Road to 2023: Ned Nwoko emerges Delta North PDP candidate
  • Ortom gets PDP senatorial ticket for Benue North West
  • Road to 2023: Kaduna APC governorship aspirant petitions INEC over alleged non-conduct of delegates’ primaries
  • Relocation of Alaba-Rago Market: Lagos warns against false alarm
  • NSIA posts N153.56 billion profit, net assets hit N919.73 billion
  • Road to 2023: Tegbe, Ilaka, Wolekanle emerge as PDP senatorial candidates in Oyo
  • Road to 2023: Upset in Bayelsa as incumbent House of Reps member loses ticket
  • Road to 2023: Uche Okonkwo lauds Soludo for ensuring unity of aspirants
  • Rivers 2023: Court summons PDP, INEC over Dagogo
  • Distribution of political offices should be even, kinsmen tell Soludo
  • APC presidential primaries: Amaechi, Akpabio woo Katsina delegates
  • NCC advises on automatic updates of antiviruses to avoid cyber attacks
  • Borno is for me, Tinubu boasts
  • Oyo/Osun Customs intercept truckloads of smuggled petrol
  • Osun Guber: Thugs attack reporters, politicians at Oyetola’s campaign
  • Nigeria needs leaders with empathy – Nigeria students in Australia
  • Two hotel staff die mysteriously in hotel in Calabar
  • Osun Guber: Governance requires experience, knowledge – Oyetola
  • Kano government recruits 3,100 hisbah guards

Categories

  • Abuja Metro
  • Anambra Watch
  • Arts
  • Broken Tongues
  • Business
  • Business Week
  • Cartoons
  • Citizen Joe
  • Columns
  • Cover
  • Culture
  • Duro Onabule
  • Editorial
  • Education Review
  • Effect
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Features
  • Femi Adesina
  • Food & Drinks
  • Frank Talk
  • Funke Egbemode
  • Gallery
  • Global Square by Kenneth Okonkwo
  • Health
  • Insights
  • Kalu Leadership Series
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Kunle Solaja
  • Letters
  • Lifeline
  • Lifestyle
  • Literary Review
  • Marketing Matters
  • Muiz Banire
  • National
  • News
  • Offside Musings
  • Opinion
  • oriental news
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • PressClips
  • Public Sphere
  • Ralph Egbu
  • Shola Oshunkeye
  • Sideview
  • South-west Magazine
  • Sponsored Post
  • Sporting Sun
  • Sports
  • Sun Girl
  • Tea Time
  • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
  • The Sun Awards Live
  • The Sun TV
  • Thoughts & Talks
  • Time Out
  • Today's cover
  • Tola Adeniyi
  • Travel
  • Travel & Tourism
  • Trending
  • TSWeekend
  • Turf Game
  • Uncategorized
  • Updates
  • Views from Abroad
  • Voices
  • World
  • World News
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Paper Ad Rate
  • Online Ad Rate
  • The Team
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • National
  • Columns
    • Broken Tongues
    • Capital Matters
    • Diabetes Corner
    • Duro Onabule
    • Femi Adesina
    • Frank Talk
    • Funke Egbemode
    • Insights
    • Kalu Leadership Series
    • Kunle Solaja
    • Offside Musings
    • PressClips
    • Public Sphere
    • Ralph Egbu
    • Shola Oshunkeye
    • Sideview
    • The Flipside – Eric Osagie
    • Tola Adeniyi
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • The Sun TV
  • Sporting Sun

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

Posting....