ADVERTISEMENT
The Sun Nigeria
  • 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
  • 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
Home Opinion

The Gates’ advice on human development

12th April 2018
in Opinion
0
Foundation pledges $80m towards bridging gender data gaps
9
SHARES
65
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Idowu Omisore

The poignant speech recently made by Bill Gates, the Co-Chair of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, opened the floodgates of discussions about pertinent issues bordering on the need for the government to truly invest in Nigerians. Health was the foremost issue that he dwelled on, reeling out statistics that could bring tears to the eyes of any right-thinking person. Gates’ great concern for the health and human capital development of the world’s most populous black nation comes to mind as the world marked World Health Day. This year’s celebration is more significant because it coincides with the World Health Organization’s seventieth anniversary. This is a momentous opportunity  for every nation to take a critical look at the challenges in their health sector and address them with the seriousness it deserves. Universal health coverage is the theme for this year’s celebration.

According to Bill Gates, “in upper middle-income countries, the average life expectancy is 75 years. In lower middle-income countries, it’s 68. In low-income countries, it’s 62. In Nigeria, it is lower still: just 53 years. Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth, with the fourth worst maternal mortality rate in the world, ahead of only Sierra Leone, Central African Republic and Chad. One in three Nigerian children is chronically malnourished.”   

One becomes more apprehensive when one considers this statistics, our rising population figures and the wide-ranging definition of human health given by World Health Organization (WHO): “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” A reflection on these pops up a question: how healthy is the world’s most populous black nation? In getting an honest answer to this question, it’s perhaps wise to first listen to a foreigner who has invested about $1.6 billion in our dear country before paying attention to the government official or political office holder whose goal is probably to make the government look good. 

This piece is not to criticize the government but to encourage those in the corridors of power to do more, to make them see reasons why the health sector deserves to be a priority on its agenda. Health, they say, is wealth. Healthy people will be highly productive and that means a healthy economy. This is in tandem with Mr. Gates’ line of thought – “The most important choice you can make is to maximize your greatest resource, the Nigerian people. Nigeria will thrive when every Nigerian is able to thrive. If you invest in their health, education, and opportunities—the “human capital” we are talking about today—then they will lay the foundation for sustained prosperity…What do I mean by investing in your people? I mean prioritizing health and education…” Doctors will stop going on strike and there would be no need to travel overseas for medical treatments when the health sector is adequately funded. How many Nigerians can even afford to travel abroad for medical care?

It was in the news lately that pregnant women in Ondo protested because ante natal fees were increased. In an oil-rich country like Nigeria, I do not see why pregnant women, infants and the elderly cannot receive free medical treatments. What really do we refer to as dividends of democracy? Who are the people enjoying these dividends? The elected or the electorate? When the people at the grassroots cannot access free healthcare, in what way are they enjoying dividends? One is bound to ask these questions. The day I saw a report that showed that Nigerian senators are the highest paid in the world, I shuddered in unbelief. Are the so-called dividends flowing down to the masses or flowing into the pockets of the elites? How many state governments have a standard health scheme for their employees and their families?

A few months from now, we will roll out drums, wear white and green stuffs and have a huge cake baked to celebrate our 59th independence anniversary. After about six decades of being a free nation, we are still struggling with something as basic as primary healthcare. Speaking of this, Mr. Gates recalled that “in 1978, Dr. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, who later became the Nigerian minister of health, helped establish primary health care as the global standard. We now know that a strong primary care system takes care of 90 percent of people’s health needs. Tragically, 40 years after Dr. Ransome-Kuti helped other countries set a course for the future, the Nigerian primary health care system is broken. The evidence for this can be found in the epidemic of chronic malnutrition, or stunting. As the name suggests, chronic malnutrition is not a disease children catch. It is a condition that develops over time because they are deprived of a diverse diet and the services a strong primary health care system provides.”

Highlighting six features of a functioning primary health system, he mentioned “adequate funding, good facilities located in the right places, skilled and dedicated health workers, ample stocks of essential equipment and medicines, patients who know about the system and want to use it, and a mechanism for collecting the data needed to improve quality.”

Our population should be an asset to us but it is more of a liability because we have not been able to harness it to our advantage. Natural resources do not come near human resources when placed on the scale of significance.

   This was echoed by Bill Gates when he advised that Nigerian leaders shift focus from physical capital to human capital. Basics such as food, shelter, health and education ought to be given a greater attention. Once these top priority needs are taken care of, productivity will increase and poverty will start thinning out.  The government, NGOs, the media, religious bodies, the private sector, communities, families and indeed all of us must play our part to build a healthier Nigeria. Aside from engaging in charitable projects, becoming a philanthropist, we can sensitize people on how to lead healthy lifestyles.  If a husband and a wife can pool resources together to invest in people across the world, then everyone of us can make a difference in our own little ways.

Omisore writes from Lagos.

 

Rapheal

Rapheal

Related Posts

Opinion

INEC registration figures and desperation to disenfranchise Southeast in 2023

7th August 2022
Opinion

Alex Otti and the blueprint for new Abia

6th August 2022
Babachir Lawal’s vituperations on Muslim-Muslim ticket
Opinion

Babachir Lawal’s vituperations on Muslim-Muslim ticket

5th August 2022
Next Post
Presidential

Another side of America revisited

trump

Syria: Trump replies Russia, says missiles ‘will be coming’

Mariah

Mariah Carey opens up about battle with bipolar disorder

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Highlights

Ten Hag era at United begins with defeat to Brighton

We are prepared for emergency management – NEMA D-G

Presidential Villa takes action to protect wildlife species, boost nature conservation

Emir Sanusi: Youths must ask questions, demand answers from public officers

Soldiers kill 8 bandits in Plateau village

Osun: Families of PDP members killed over election largesse cry for justice 

Trending

Buhari celebrates Team Nigeria’s medal galore at Commonwealth Games
National

Buhari celebrates Team Nigeria’s medal galore at Commonwealth Games

7th August 2022
0

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja  President Muhammadu Buhari has celebrated the athletes that represented Nigeria at 22nd Commonwealth...

Buhari’s nephew dumps APC

Buhari’s nephew dumps APC

7th August 2022
Nigeria Unity: Groups seek Confab For youth.

Don’t give up, there’s hope for Nigeria – Scholar tells citizens

7th August 2022
Ten Hag era at United begins with defeat to Brighton

Ten Hag era at United begins with defeat to Brighton

7th August 2022
We are prepared for emergency management – NEMA D-G

We are prepared for emergency management – NEMA D-G

7th August 2022
ADVERTISEMENT

Follow us on social media:

Latest News

  • Buhari celebrates Team Nigeria’s medal galore at Commonwealth Games
  • Buhari’s nephew dumps APC
  • Don’t give up, there’s hope for Nigeria – Scholar tells citizens
  • Ten Hag era at United begins with defeat to Brighton
  • We are prepared for emergency management – NEMA D-G
  • Presidential Villa takes action to protect wildlife species, boost nature conservation
  • Emir Sanusi: Youths must ask questions, demand answers from public officers
  • Soldiers kill 8 bandits in Plateau village
  • Osun: Families of PDP members killed over election largesse cry for justice 
  • Protesting groups call for release of Lagos-based lawyer at Ikot Ekpene prison
  • 2023: Politicians recruiting cultists, ex-convicts to destabilize Rivers – Wike
  • Soludo urges Churches to promote unity for healthy nation
  • Security: Fulani group condemns incessant killings across Nigeria
  • Igbos in diaspora trace origin, reunites with kindred at CISA 2022
  • Hijrah: Gov Bello tasks Muslim faithful to preach peace, unity of Nigeria
  • WAEC to release May/June 2022 WASSCE results to tomorrow 
  • 284 indigenous companies applied for Delta-2 Project – FG
  • We are not employers of university lecturers, NAPTAN tells FG
  • NIRSAL Microfinance Bank unveils new facility for MSMEs
  • Lack of investment in youths responsible for society’s failure – Abe

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
  • About Us
  • Paper Ad Rate
  • Online Ad Rate
  • Change of Name
  • The Team
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

© 2019 The Sun Nigeria - Managed by Netsera.

No Result
View All Result
  • 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.