I have had several opportunities to speak with Nigerian physicians in Diaspora that have gone home “successfully”, others who had to rush out after going home and many others who want to yield to calls from both the Nigerian government and people of Nigeria to return home to help.
Although I believe all physicians do not have to go back to Nigeria to help, I think a critical mass may need to go home to develop a collaborative atmosphere that currently is lacking in many medical schools in Nigeria, and which inhibits the potentials of working across the Atlantic.
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| Prof. Akin Osibogun, CMD of LUTH |
In a recent report that appeared in The Guardian, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Akin Osibogun, announced an initiative to "boost medical tourism" through a "public -private initiative arrangement". After reading this story, I wondered if it would be helpful for physicians who have gone home successfully and those who had to return to share their experiences with ANPA members as there might be a lesson or two they can give those thinking of returning home on the “dos” and “don’ts”.
The Indian government successfully attracted its citizens in diaspora back to their country by working with them to answer the question: what do you need for the government to have in place (policy) for you to come back?
Will Nigeria do the same?
THE Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has announced plans to boost medical tourism in the West African sub-region.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the hospital’s management, the public -private initiative arrangement to be executed under New LUTH Initiative (NLI) would carter for the needs of Nigerians, who often travel out of the country for best medical care.
The above is the problem with healthcare in Nigeria. LUTH is trying to boost medical tourism but the common man in Ajegunle or Ojuelegba has no place to go for basic primary care and children die from preventable diseases. Can Lagos state or LUTH boast that 50% of children have been vaccinated in the state? How do you expect the CMD of LUTH to establish a working relationship with physicians abroad when he is out of touch with the healthcare needs of his state. Same goes for the country in general.
Tagbo Ekwonu