The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has described the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari in a London hospital as a wake-up call for Nigerian leaders to urgently revamp the nation’s ailing healthcare system.
In a condolence message issued on Tuesday, the Archbishop expressed sorrow over Buhari’s passing and used the occasion to highlight the long-standing issue of medical tourism among the country’s political elite, which he said reflects poorly on Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.
“His death in a London hospital brings into focus again the need to develop healthcare delivery and facilities in our country to stem the tide of medical tourism,” Martins said.
“This anomaly not only drains the purses of those who can afford it but, more importantly, deepens the pain of those who cannot afford treatment abroad.
They are left with the feeling that they are being abandoned to die from illnesses that are otherwise treatable.”
He noted with concern that Buhari’s demise marks the second time in recent history that a sitting or former Nigerian president has died abroad due to medical complications, a situation he described as “a national shame.”
The cleric also referenced a public complaint once made by the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, about the poor state of the State House Clinic, questioning what that implied for the conditions of regular public hospitals.
“If the First Lady could lament the state of the State House Clinic during their time in office, one can only imagine the condition of clinics and hospitals meant for the ordinary Nigerian,” he said.
Archbishop Martins further decried the worsening brain drain in the country’s health sector, with many trained Nigerian professionals seeking better opportunities overseas. He pointed out the irony that many Nigerians often find themselves treated abroad by the same doctors who had been forced to leave Nigeria due to poor working conditions.
“The death of President Buhari should ginger our governments to act strategically and urgently to improve healthcare delivery in the country. It should also prompt a serious national dialogue on how to reverse the brain drain that continues to impoverish our health system,” he added.
He concluded by praying for the repose of Buhari’s soul and comfort for his family and all those mourning his loss, hoping that his death would serve as a catalyst for positive change in the Nigerian healthcare system.