What does a Minister of Health do?
Two headlines have caught my eye these past couple of days:
Tunisia
The Tunisian Health Minister has resigned after 11 newborn babies Died suddenly. Investigations have been launched to unravel the remote and immediate causes of their deaths.
No doubt the health minister knows the buck stops at his table and such statistics is a reflection of his management of their health system.
Finland
The Finnish Prime Minister, Juha Sipila has resigned over his failed health care reforms.
Why keep hanging on when you are not making a difference or being allowed to make a difference?
Health is about Life and Death. Full Stop.
A great responsibility we have as medical practitioners is to treat the lives placed in our hands as sacred and doctors who violate this trust may be subject to disciplinary action including loss of their license to practice medicine. At least this is how it should be
Nigeria
No doubt Prof. Isaac Adewole the current Minister of Health appointed in 2015 comes with a very enviable pedigree, a former Vice Chancellor of the prestigious University of Ibadan, he has indeed made his mark on the world stage.
However, tainting his career during his tenure are statistics such as these:
- Between DEC 2016 and June 2017, 1,166 people died of meningitis
- In 2017 over 1000 died from preventable causes
- 41,000 people died of cancer in Nigeria in 2018 (WHO)
- After an outbreak of Lassa fever ravaged the country and killed dozens in 2018, another outbreak was declared in January 2019. As of March 3, 2019, there were 1447 suspected cases and 90 reported deaths
- We can’t forget the mass migration of doctors from Nigeria in 2018
Standing by Principles
A modified version of the Hippocratic oath states:
I will not be ashamed to say “I know not,” nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient’s recovery.
Is it time for our dear Prof to throw in the towel like his colleagues in developed climes and call for the skills of another?
And what truly is the value of one Nigerian life?
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