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Despite allocating huge resources to the health sector, Nigerian leaders and politicians have continued their mistrust for the sector by abandoning it to rot, while flying abroad to treat the commonest of ailments at taxpayers’ expense in what stakeholders have described as medical tourism.
The health sector, like other major sectors in the country, has continued to suffer ups and downs, including industrial actions, low funding and low access to basic healthcare facilities among poor Nigerians.
The Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors, the umbrella body of doctors undergoing residency, announced the commencement of a five-day warning strike on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.
The strike, which has grounded activities in government-owned hospitals and health facilities, has left poor citizens, who cannot afford treatment in private health facilities, stranded.
Before he (Buhari) was sworn in as President eight years ago, Buhari, whose mantra was ‘Change’, visited the Chatham House in London in 2015, where he said, “What is the difference between me and those who elected us to represent them? Absolutely nothing! Why should a Nigerian President not fly with other Nigerian public? Why do I need to embark on foreign trip as a president with a huge crowd with public funds? Why do I need to go for foreign medical trip if we cannot make our hospitals functional? Why do we need to send our children to school abroad if we cannot develop our universities to compete with foreign ones?”
Eight months after assuming office in February 2016, Buhari embarked on a medical trip to the UK, where he spent a total of six days.
In April 2016, months after his first medical trip to London, Buhari condemned the use of Nigerian resources for international medical expenses.
Amidst criticisms, the retired general embarked on his second medical trip on June 6, 2016. He spent 10 days treating an undisclosed ear infection, after which he rested for three extra days before returning to Abuja on June 19, 2016 despite the availability of the National Ear Centre in the country.
On January 19, 2017, the President embarked on his second longest medical trip. Before leaving, however, he wrote to the Bukola Saraki-led Senate revealing his plan to travel to London for a 10-day vacation.
In the letter, Buhari said he would hand over to his deputy, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. Though the medical holiday was due to commence on January 23, 2017, the President left Abuja the same day.
He returned to Abuja on March 10, 2017, after spending 50 days away.
In May of the same year, barely two months after his last trip, the President departed for London for his longest medical pilgrimage lasting 104 days.
It is still unclear what ailment he was being treated for, but Nigerians were asked to “pray” for the President.
The President is not alone in medical tourism as his wife, Aisha, was flown to Dubai in August 2020 over a “persistent neck pain.”
Similarly, their son, Yusuf, was in 2018 flown abroad for treatment after he was involved in a power bike accident.
In August 2020, Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, was also flown to the UK for medical treatment.
The President-elect, Bola Tinubu, is no stranger to medical tourism.
The former Lagos State governor spent a total of 90 days in the UK in 2021 following a knee surgery.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, was flown to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in December 2015.
Similarly in October 22, 2023, Atiku also jetted out to France for what was simply tagged “medicals.”
Peoplesmind
