Ailing Healthcare System: Illuminating Nigeria's Healthcare Challenges and Possible Innovative Solutions

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Hello everyone, I am happy to be a part of this contest, which affords me the opportunity to illuminate Nigeria's healthcare system.

The Nigerian health care system, despite the giant strides made in some specific areas, is plagued with a plethora of challenges that significantly deprive the citizens of having equitable access to quality health care. In this post, I will unsympathetically explore some of these issues and suggest possible innovative solutions to optimize the health system and improve the overall well-being of Nigerians.

My rating of a System in Need of Healing
Currently, I would rate the Nigerian healthcare system as comparatively poor. I have to be candid with all #Hivers at this point. It is a very difficult task, if not impossible in some areas/regions, to have equitable access to the already poor healthcare system in Nigeria. For instance, if you go on a medical expedition to some of the rural communities, you will agree with me that our health sector needs significant reformation, as you will witness a serious rot/collapse in the industry. I can assure you, that as you approach a designated health center, the level of underfunding becomes palpable, you will notice the visible desertion and dilapidation of health centers, overgrown grasses and trees covering the health facility will deny you free entrance and no medical personnel will be there to receive you. Also, brain drain, leading to massive emigration or what we call ‘Japa’ of skilled medical personnel abroad, and the corruption within the system contributes a lot to this rot in our health system; addressing these issues becomes very crucial. Now, let’s take a critical look at some of these issues and inconsistencies plaguing our healthcare sector:

1. Level of underfunding and Infrastructural decay: The persistent underfunding of the healthcare sector has resulted in the visible dilapidation of useful health facilities, a lack of essential medical equipment, and inadequate staffing. Without mincing words, I am telling you that many hospitals and clinics in cities and villages do not have basic facilities such as electricity and clean water. Their environment is dirty and smells bad due to leaking toilets pipes, etc. This can create germ-infested environments and impede quality healthcare delivery. You can recollect that I made a post in the #healthybees community yesterday on “A Gift of Life: My Blood Donation for a Needy Friend at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital” source. If you take a careful look at the sterile environment in the image I used, you will see that the blood donation was performed outside due lack of electricity, the phlebotomy or donor chair was supported by a concrete block, the floor was not tiled, there was obnoxious odor everywhere, and others. It was a complete eyesore, and I was disappointed by the state of decay in such a reputable teaching hospital.

2.Emigration due to Brain Drain: The quest for higher pay and better working conditions has resulted in a massive exodus of skilled medical professionals from Nigeria to developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and others. This has really deepened the problem in the health sector.

3.Limited access and equity: The disparities in geographical locations have resulted in our inability to access quality healthcare services. As aforementioned, rural communities frequently lack access to better healthcare services and facilities, while urban centers, on the other hand usually experience overcrowding, long wait times, and sometimes fairly poor medical services. Furthermore, in most rural communities, the nearest distance between existing health centers is hundreds of kilometers apart. This is indeed against the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines which recommend that in order for all to have access to equitable healthcare services, healthcare centers and facilities should be situated within a reasonable distance from the population they are to serve, and factors like travel time, terrain, and transportation options should be considered. source

4.Corruption and Inefficiency within the system
In Nigeria, corruption permeates every fiber of the society and the healthcare sector is not an exception. It is apparent that corrupt practices like the criminal diversion of funds that ought to have been used for some capital project, abandonment of projects, kickback, nepotism, financially inducing medical personnel to do their work, high headedness in the system, etc are perpetrated in the system. Also, the sale of fake drugs tends to worsen the prevailing problem.

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A Healthier Nigeria is possible: Some Innovative solutions
In order to address these challenges, I would like to proffer a multi-pronged at this juncture:

1. The government should Invest in Human Capital in the sector, implement competitive salaries, improve working conditions, etc.

2. Government and the private sector must partner to strengthen Primary Healthcare services to expand access to rudimentary healthcare for all citizens. This may include serious investment in community health facilities, continued training of community health workers, etc.

3. Using Technology for quality healthcare delivery. This may involve embracing telemedicine, utilizing mobile applications that can enhance healthcare delivery, and keeping digital health records to optimize access to quality healthcare, especially in inaccessible areas.

4. Combat Corruption and Implement a transparent system that is accountable for reducing corruption within the sector, promoting effective and efficient use of allocated resources. Also, well-prescribed punitive measures must be instituted against erring personnel.

We can collectively achieve a healthy Nigeria by implementing the innovative solutions I have proposed, and I invite @newbreed and @Ubglo17 to participate in the contest.
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