Today we watched a well produced debate on a brand new 24 hour Nigerian news channel NN24, watched all over Nigeria (if you have electricity), beamed live across Africa by DSTV, by BEN TV in the UK, live-streamed on the internet, with live twitter feeds and parallel debates on facebook. The debates was moderated by the articulate editor of another leading light in the new Nigeria - 234Next; Kadira Ahmed. Several news sites will report and analyse the debate in detail but we will focus on the health sector.
Ibrahim Shekaru
The first to respond on the issue of health was Ibrahim Shekaru. I must confess, I was generally very impressed by how articulate Shekaru was. He answered most of the questions thoughtfully and generally gave well thought through answers, that is, apart from the questions on the health sector. On his priorities in the health sector he referred to public enlightenment and re-emphasizing primary health care. He referred to this approach as one he used "successfully" in Kano state, while redeveloping the Kano General Hospital and building a new pediatric general hospital. An interesting quote from him....
"Teaching hospitals have no business with small small cases of immunisations...."When challenged on his role in jeopardizing the global polio eradication campaign when he suspended immunisation after being elected into office as Governor of Kano State, he justified it by saying he did this to prevent the collapse of the public health sector in Kano as people had lost faith in government. He said he ...he had a "moral responsibility" to stop the polio vaccination programme! Hmmmm....
Muhammadu Buhari
The general had a lot of the audience clapping for him when he said that he would "convince" our over paid senators to give up a lot of their incredibly generous financial reward, but he probably did not win a lot of people over when asked to articulate his vision for the health sector. On his plans for the health sector, he said he would improve infrastructure, especially water supply in order to stop water borne diseases, dig more bore holes etc etc. He would also train more people. The general moaned that there were too many fake drugs in the market, and we must therefore enforce strict control and supervision on the healthcare of children and mothers. But the quote that drew the most consternation was....
We will work with foreign NGOs to help our people - we will look for help from foriegn countries for advisers and experienced personnel, we will invite foreign pharmaceutical firms.It was obvious that the general has obviously not given a lot of thought to the health sector as a factor.
Nuhu Ribadu
Mallam Ribadu was asked to start his debate on the health sector by stating what he felt about the situation in Lagos Stae, where doctors and nurses are on strike, leaving over 12 million Nigerians at the mercy of private hospitals. Lagos state is quoted on several occasions as the best performing state in Nigeria, and is governed by the Action Congress of Nigeria, Ribadu's party. Ribadu answered that the strikes were demonstration of democracy! Demonstration of democracy???
He came back to tell the story of his visit to a patient in Ikeja General Hospital were he says he was so impressed with the excellent facilities that he thought he was not in Nigeria. On his vision for the health sector, he said that he would not rehabilitate hospitals but the entoire health sector. He promised 6 special hospitals across the country for "kidney disease, cancer, heart disease, women, children and neurosurgery2. Mallam Ribadu would invite back Nigerian doctors from the Diaspora and promised to engage with the private sector to support his health sector plans. He also promised to strengthen the National Health Insurance Scheme and support the local pharmaceutical industry. He ended with this quote that he used severally in the debate...
"Nigerians ...it is possible "
So what did we think?
On the health sector, it was obvious that Mallam Ribadu had given this more thought than any of the other presidential candidates and gave the most articulate response but generally the responses on the health sector lacked depth and an understanding of the complexity of the sector. Most answers focused on quick wins - such as big infrastructure projects with little reference to the systems required to prevent illness and provide healthcare. They have three weeks to get some advice on this and bring this to the forefront of their campaigns.
But most of all we were disappointed by the absence of the party that has led the country for the past 12 years. - the PDP. Profoundly disappointed that they did not make themselves available to be held accountable.
6 comments:
I agree completely with you...they all goofed on their ideas for the health sector...their campaign teams have not thought through the plans they may have to change the health sector and particularly Gen. Buhari's answer was very alarming - foreign dependence?
But again, this is Nigerian politics in true colour...never about the issues...more about sentiments...the Nigerian people have always been taken for a ride because the never ask the right questions - how? with what resources? when? what's the opportunity cost? (e.g. for building 6 specialist hospitals? reduction in spending on immunizations?).
The debate was very interesting and showed the knowledge and character of our aspiring presidential candidates and it was very different from an APGA rally I had witnessed a day earlier in Eke Awka market where Mr. Peter Obi, Prof. Dora Akunyili and Mr. Emeke Nwogbo failed to address the issues that the market people wanted them to address.
I was a real shame that our president was not in the debate because we deserve to hear to nderstand his plans to lead us.
I was impressed with the articulate manner Mallam Shekarau presented his cases. The decision bugging me now is who between Buhari (who in my opinion has the best credentials as regards tranparency and anti-corruption) and Mallam Shekarau who expressed so much knowledge on how to take Nigeria to the next level. With Mallam Ribadu living under the wings of Mr. Tinibu, it is difficult to determine what he as an individual has as an agenda for Nigeria.
I believe that whoever manages the other sectors right would have been able to set the background for health sector development.
I will still want to listen to Mr. President!
Concise Article.. However, on the debates, what criteria did NN24 use to eliminate all the other 14 candidates? Apart from GEJ, who was invited and did not come, how come we do not get to hear from the 'other candidates'?
They might have better things to say about the health sector, but do not have the political might to have the opportunity to say so!!!
Regarding this presidential debate, I have sinced adviced that open minded Nigerians should not dwell too narrowly on the non-attendance of the president, as there are different perspectives to it. My reason for this is very simple. If the president had been in attendance, the direction of the whole debate would have been very different, as all the other candidates would have just concentrated on incumbent bashing, which is very very easy. But due to the president's absence, the spotlight shifted to the other candidates for a moment, and away from the incumbent. Just forget about Goodluck for one moment, you tell us what you yourself would do differently. People ask for change,and I agree. But does change leave a vacancy, and an empty seat? Change is a process of substitution. Remove one, and replace with another. Is it not?This has been an opportunity to analyse what our other options are, and what we may be changing to.
Perfect synthesis!
I was embarrassed by Ribadu's comments on the NN24 interview. He demonstrated a disturbing lack of grasp of the salient issues and chose to display his ignorance with soundbites! Nigeria does not need new specialist centres at this stage; it needs to first focus on strengthening its primary care system and on basic public health related infrastructure -- road safety and clean water included! As with Ribadu, Buhari chose to display his ignorance with a worrying obsession with an as of now mysterious strategy to be determined and presumably executed by foreign money and labour. Shekaru was articulate and displayed acceptable knowledge of the most important issues affecting healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
To conclude, while it has been interesting to listen to their opinions and thoughts, they do not matter as much as what the incumbent thinks as he will of course win the elections.
I really appreciated your post, this would really provide the great information .Thanks for sharing.
wheelchairs
Post a Comment