Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died”-Erma Bombeck”. The opening quote above was one of the eternal statements of Erma Bombeck. Bombeck, a renowned American humorist seemed to have alluded to the chequered Nigeria medical history and its irresolute practitioners when he coined that quote.
The action of the medical administrators and irresponsible abandonment of Nigeria health care system by the government is an obvious indication that beyond the death of doctor’s plant, the entire Nigeria medical system is on emergency situation requiring urgent radical attention.
The recent oversea medical trip of Mr. President and the usual regular health check up abroad by top Nigerian government officials are testimonials to the veracity of Erma Bombeck’s assertion and a confirmation of a comatose health system. The primary, secondary and tertiary health care is all gasping for breath from the unimaginable rape of the sector.
The reoccurring financial malfeasance by government officials and medical contractors who rather than equip our hospitals, convert the resources appropriated for quality health care delivery to self enrichment has wrecked the health sector. Imo people for example, were stunned when former governor Rochas Okorochas embarked on a bogus and ambitious 27 hospital project in 27 local governments of the state.
Despite the hue and cry at the time about the unrealistic nature of the project and suggestions for the government to equip the already existing moribund general hospitals instead of embarking on such wide goose chase, the government remained obstinate. The projects soon became uncompleted patches of aesthetic distortion in the 27 local government areas of the state.
However, the insincere motive behind the 27 hospital project was exposed when the administration of former governor Emeka Ihedioha came on board and discovered that for each of the uncompleted building, N1 billion Imo tax payers’ money was siphoned. N27 billion that could transform medical sector in 4 states in Nigeria to world class went to private pocket.
No wonder our health care system bleeds. No wonder our medical sector is groaning to suffocation. No wonder our doctors’ plants are dead. Such corrupt tendencies of insatiable government officials have caused untoward hardship on Imo people with dare consequences of high mortality rate, low life expectancy and overall devastation of an average Imolite and Nigerians generally.
Just as it has become normal for Nigerians to provide their own water, power and roads, they must as a matter of exigency also create their own medical services. Nigeria medical system is at the edge of precipice.
The Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, though a federal parastatal is not immune from the infested bug of corruption in the state.
I am tempted to believe that of all the 22 Federal Medical Centres established by Nigeria federal government, FMC, Owerri ranks low on effective customer service delivery and functionality despite the so called array of medical experts.
It must be stated that there is wisdom behind the establishment of FMC as a third level (tertiary) medical care system in which specialist consultative care is provided usually on referral from primary and secondary care. That is why it is designed as a first choice of seeking qualitative and timely clinical and other support services to patients within its jurisdiction
Unfortunately, beyond the lack of medical facility, the altitude of the medical staff of FMC, Owerr, is a sharp contrast to the ideals of the institution and have led to many people who visited the hospital as patients carried home as corpses. It is no longer news that almost all the doctors working in FMC Owerri runs private hospital where they devote their time and attention.
They merely visit FMC just to justify their huge salaries from government coffers. It was a nasty experience recently when a colleague who was admitted to the hospital was left for hours before being attended to. Thank God he did not die. In fact, upon his arrival, the first set of medical personnel who saw him, for inexplicable reason, kept way from him. Do we talk about the case of a far relation who was electrocuted and brought to the hospital?
His two arms were eventually chopped off because his bad situation festered due to alleged delay of being attended to by staff of FMC, Owerri. Such cases are too many to mention. Granted that the lack of a single MRI machine in FMC Owerri, the biggest health institution in Imo state, is beyond the provision of the staff; taken that the incessant power failure, even during surgery, cannot be tackle by the staff; what about the caring touch of a medical professional that soothes a dying man?
What about the prompt and subtle touch on patients? What about commitment and dedication to duties despite inadequate work tools? Staff attitude to work has been roundly blamed on the poor managerial ability of the medical director of FMC, Owerri, Dr. kinsley Chigbu. People now know why Dr (Mrs) Angela Uwakwem, a no nonsense former medical director of that institutions was vehemently fought to standstill by those who want it “business as usual”.
In the next edition I will critically examine the leadership of the institution and how it affects workers effectiveness. I will like to digress by using the remaining space to discuss the state of insecurity in Imo.
I have long restrained myself from venturing into the vexed issue of security in the state owing to its delicate nature. But the wanton killing of innocent citizens by the military, secret arrest and detention by security agents call for uproar. As I write, a professor friend of mine has been held captive for about 3 weeks in detention. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was unjustly incarcerated and so many others.
Divine Nwaneri, undergraduate of Imo State University was gun down by the military on 25th of April, while she rode with her friends towards Okigwe road, Owerri. I saw the bullet ridden vehicle. It was like a car caught in a cross fire of war.
Noel Chigbu, from Ngor Okpala, Owerri North, Imo State who runs a popular Sharwama joint in Amakohia, Owerri was shot dead by the military on 30th of April. His sin was violation of military check point. How cheap human life has become! A supposedly pig farmer was also shot dead few days after Divine was killed.
Palpable fear has enveloped everywhere hence the force silence. Fear of being killed or detained for speaking. If you talk, you will die, if you keep silent, you will also die. Why not say the truth. Much as I condemn the attack on military formation and killing of security operatives by unknown gun men, the military and other security agencies should leave innocent citizens alone and go after their attackers. The man who stirs the hornet’s nest must be ready for bee stink.
Ifeanyi Onyekachi is a public affairs analyst and writes from Owerri
