Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian polymath, was one of the initial thinkers to envision a flying apparatus through his concept for a ‘flying machine.’ Although this particular invention didn’t function as intended, it marked the start of modern aviation. Interestingly, another of his creations eventually evolved into today’s widely used helicopters. Prior to da Vinci’s groundbreaking concepts and the historic flight achieved by the Wright brothers—Orville and Wilbur—on December 17, 1903, numerous individuals had attempted their own unsuccessful endeavors in developing functional airborne vehicles.
As humanity has extended its reach into the sky, numerous air crashes and accidents have taken place and will likely persist. Indeed, one of the worst aviation disasters ever recorded happened on March 27, 1977, at Los Rodeos Airport on Tenerife Island in the Canary Islands. This tragic event involved a collision between a KLM Boeing 747 trying to take off and a taxiing Pan Am Boeing 747. The incident resulted in the unfortunate loss of all 538 people aboard both planes.
In airplane crashes and incidents, pilot error reportedly accounts for 53 percent, whereas mechanical failures and weather conditions contribute to 21 percent and 11 percent respectively.
Similar to how aviation remains one of the safest modes of travel despite occasional incidents, Nigeria’s healthcare system also faces significant challenges. Doctor errors have resulted in numerous deaths and cases of permanent disability among Nigerians.
On New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1983, the military regime led by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari ousted President Shehu Shagari’s civilian administration from Dodan Barracks in Obalende, Lagos. In his inaugural address as head of state, Buhari declared that an incompetent Shagari government had transformed public hospitals into little more than walk-in clinics. Regrettably, over four decades later, these medical facilities—whether publicly funded or privately operated—are not just underperforming; they have become places akin to abattoirs with numerous physicians acting almost as executioners. These healthcare providers often resort to hit-or-miss methods similar to how automobile repairmen troubleshoot issues without clear diagnoses.
From instances of infant switching at numerous hospitals—both government-run and privately owned—to blatant kidnappings, mysterious vanishings, incorrect diagnoses, as well as gruesome mutilations where organs such as kidneys and intestines have been removed from unsuspecting victims, some Nigerian doctors resemble Riva de Biasio—a deranged and nightmarish serial murderer from Venice, California—who was known for brutally killing and disfiguring young girls and boys in public spaces. His horrific acts were chronicled in the renowned book “The Butcher of Venice” by Irmgard Rawn.
Some of these individuals, along with their caregivers, have such poor attitudes that you might end up regretting seeking treatment from them.
Even though we were in this dire situation, many of our physicians remain exceptionally skilled, thorough, and remarkably adept at performing their responsibilities.
The gross incompetence and deceit exhibited by culpable medical professionals in Nigeria’s healthcare system didn’t begin recently. Roughly three decades back, a journalist friend confided in me about his spouse firmly believing their newborn had been switched post-delivery at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital. She claimed she distinctly remembered delivering a girl but woke up to find herself with a male infant instead. Such unethical practices persist unchecked across numerous facilities in our nation. This could explain why we’ve witnessed a disturbing rise in paternity disputes throughout the region.
Moreover, numerous medical professionals and patients experience similar issues; for example, the esteemed Lagos-based lawyer and human rights advocate, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), passed away on September 5, 2009, following an extended struggle with advanced cancer. Initially, he was wrongly diagnosed with a simple sore throat and persistent cough in Nigeria. It wasn’t until much later, during diagnosis overseas, that the true nature of his illness—a widespread lung cancer—was identified. Unfortunately, this revelation came far too late as the disease had metastasized throughout his entire body. Sadly, countless instances like these occur every day across the nation without ever being documented.
A significant number of Nigerian citizens have lost their lives, and continue to do so, while undergoing operations in various healthcare facilities across the country. According to reports, May Ellen Mofe-Damijo (MEE), who worked as both a journalist and the publisher of Classique magazine, tragically passed away following a failed uterine fibroid operation at Providence Hospital in Surulere, Lagos, on March 23, 1996; she was only 30 years old at the time. Additionally, Wale Aboderin, the chairman of Punch Newspapers Limited, apparently met his end at the First Cardiology Consultants hospital located in Ikoyi, Lagos, when he suffered complications from what should have been a routine cardiac procedure on May 30, 2018. More recently, the former Police Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Waheed Ayilara, also succumbed to his injuries after experiencing difficulties during prostate surgery at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).
However, due to divine intervention, Yusuf Olaniyonu, a journalist and formerly the Ogun State Commissioner for Information, narrowly escaped death despite undergoing multiple surgeries for prostate issues at the National Hospital in Abuja. After being abandoned in one of the ward rooms with little hope of survival, he was eventually rescued when taken to a hospital in Cairo, Egypt. Many of our fellow citizens do not enjoy such privileges. The situation became even more tragic with the unfortunate demise of a 13-year-old named Akin Bright on September 19, 2023. It was reported that his condition worsened as he moved from a private clinic called Obitoks to LASUTH without proper treatment concerning his missing lower intestine.
As I pen this, my heart is deeply wounded as an orphaned niece of my wife lies motionless in a morgue in Imo State. Despite efforts at two hospitals, they were unable to save both her and her newborn during and following delivery. This dual loss—of both the child and the mother—is overwhelmingly painful for all involved. It seems endless when we consider similar heartbreaking stories across our healthcare facilities, highlighting our powerlessness and despair.
To avoid unnecessary medical travel and address this issue effectively, federal and state governments ought to upgrade all university teaching hospitals so they can handle contemporary challenges and align with advanced healthcare technologies prevalent in developed nations. The era when members of the Saudi royal family frequently sought treatment at institutions such as the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan—which has since declined significantly, often facing power shortages due to unpaid bills—should not return. Instead, these facilities must be modernized promptly.
Additionally, both the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the country’s universities should reassess medical school curriculums since certain training methodologies used for physicians do not align with contemporary practices.
Whenever a case of negligence is reported against any medical doctor, or any health worker, MDCN and other regulatory bodies have a responsibility to investigate such a case and, if found guilty, discipline the erring doctor or health professional. It is partly because of the inadequate unresponsiveness of MDCN and others that some relatives of dead patients take the law into their own hands and physically assault doctors and nurses, especially when they are convinced that negligence leads to the death of their loved ones. Collectively, we must save our collapsed health sector to save our own lives.
*Omolale, a reporter, submitted this article through somolale@gmail.com
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