INTERVIEW: ‘Nigeria’s Health Institutions Have No Standard At All’-Reverend Dr. Tunde Oyinloye, Nigerian born London Human Rights Advocate …Says: ‘Nigeria’s Teaching Hospitals lame through Lack of Confidence, Poor Medical Equipment, Lack of Security’ *Explains Why Elite Nigerians, Politicians Travel Abroad for Medication *How Brain Drain Makes Shortage Qualified, Experienced Medical Practitioners in Nigeria *Planning Operation Feed London in United Kingdom to Reduce Homelessness

INTERVIEW:

‘Nigeria’s Health Institutions Have No Standard At All’-Reverend Dr. Tunde Oyinloye, Nigerian born London Human Rights Advocate

…Says: ‘Nigeria’s Teaching Hospitals lame through Lack of Confidence, Poor Medical Equipment, Lack of Security’

*Explains Why Elite Nigerians, Politicians Travel Abroad for Medication

*How Brain Drain Makes Shortage Qualified, Experienced Medical Practitioners in Nigeria

*Planning Operation Feed London in United Kingdom to Reduce Homelessness

REVEREND Dr. Tunde Oyinloye is a leading Human Rights Advocate in London. He is a British citizen, and was originally born in Nigeria. He’s an ambassador, a multiple, award-wining professional making Nigeria proud in Britain and chairs Hospital & Prison Action Network (HPAN) in Co-operative Workspace, located along 62 Beechwood Road, off Daltson Lane, London E8 3DY. In this Exclusive Interview with SAMSON SHOAGA/MANAGING EDITOR, this highly cerebral British analyzes the problems facing Nigeria’s health sector, Why Brain Drain migration in the country, How President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government can make life better for the people and Plans to Stage Operation Feed London in United Kingdom

Q: How did you attain this ecstatic feat in United Kingdom programme that led to you laurel of ‘Connect Hackney Achievement Award’?

I have been working at grassroot level for over 10 years, engaging in local projects that promote the rehabilitation of people discharged from prison or hospital to get back to normal life as smoothly and quickly as humanly possible. On this basis I think I am on ground enough to be part of the ongoing development in the two sectors. I am a practical person. For our ‘feed the homeless’ project for instance, I personally get involved and closely monitor the collection and distribution of the food and other materials such as sleeping bags in the winter period. So my style of direct engagement earned me the accolade.

Q: What are some of the secrets in British Health System that stands it out?

What makes NHS stand out is the ability to use various Laws to regulate the sector, alongside effective regulatory agencies and private watchdogs within and outside the sector. The government, through its coordinated agencies, ensures effective regulation of all hospitals and are in working partnership with relevant NGOs to ensure strict compliance. One thing that makes things work in Britain is the culture of seeking excellence in whatever is done, and this achievement is continuously improved through findings from regular observations or reports, official and unofficial. It is a society where information is freely available, where anyone can ask questions and get response, where any person or organization can be dragged to court literally by anyone who feels he or she has a point to prove. All these help to keep everyone on their toes to deliver to best services.

Q: Heard illegal immigrants from Africa and other Commonwealth nations that are detained are occasionally sent into UK’s mental home. What is your take on that?

I am not sure about this and have no information to that effect. However, the trauma, fear and uncertainty in immigration detention where those detained are unsure of what may happen next is enough to lead anyone to develop mental illness. If you consider that most of these people have left their native lands for many years and so may have little or no active family ties there anymore, the fact that some have started a family of their own in the UK who they stand the risk of being forcefully separated from, the fact that they have built social life in the UK that they may be leaving behind, that they may have no financial and material resources in the country where they are being deported to may lead them to abject poverty and squalor that may make a number of them homeless while a few others may take to crime just to survive.

Q: How will you rate the health institutions in Nigeria presently?

The Nigeria health institutions are not up to standard due to non-provision of up to date equipment and medications, corruption that permeate the nation, lackadaisical attitude of the staff, most of whom can be very rude to patients, high rate of negligence, the brain drain of qualified medical experts to seek greener pastures abroad and the little or no standardization control of the multitude of private health centres that spring up all over the place, sometimes using only two rooms with untrained nurses and minimally sterilized medical tools. The sad fact is that the situation may not be remedied as those in position to do so and the rich ones, more often than not, opt to have medical check ups and treatment abroad.

Q: What steps do you think the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari can take to ensure Nigerian hospitals maintain International standards?

The government through its coordinated agencies should ensure effective regulation of all hospitals and should be in working partnership with relevant NGOs to ensure strict compliance. There should be monitoring and evaluation of all Nigerian hospitals. Federal Hospitals in all states must have a general hospital also, with appropriate facilities. Medical practitioners must be paid very well, to enable them to work effectively. He should encourage our medical practitioners abroad to come home and work in our hospitals and clinics. Provide Free medical care for all citizens.

Q: Why do think most elites, especially Nigerian politicians travel overseas on medical treatment instead of relying on Nigeria’s Teaching Hospitals?

Lack of confidence, poor medical equipment and lack of security in the hospital systems. Look, you have only one life and you can’t gamble it away in a medical system that is literally nonfunctional, so if you can afford it, you would prefer to travel abroad or send your loved ones abroad for better service, at least to ensure that you spend your remaining days on earth in good health. If the system is of excellent quality where global medical best practices are adhered to, then you would see that many of those who travel abroad for health checks would drastically reduce.

Q: Many Nigerian medical doctors and nurses are abroad where they have taken various citizenship. Don’t you think that is leading to brain drain in Nigeria’s health sector?

Definitely yes, it makes Nigeria to have shortage of qualified and well experienced medical practitioners. But do you blame them? If you have that option, what would you do? Everybody wants to maximize their advantages for their own sake and that of their families, especially in an uncertain system that does not guarantee good working conditions with modern equipment and competitive remuneration. It is a situation of supply and demand. As long as there is demand for them elsewhere with better offer on the table, more of them would be tempted to go for it. It is only natural so don’t let us blame them. If the nation’s medical system is fixed, I am sure many of them would prefer to stay at home instead of travelling, which is not a bed of roses.

Q: As former 1st Vice Chairman at Nigeria Diaspora Security Forum, how do you think Nigeria’s health sector can be saved?

The only way out is to guarantee universal access to quality healthcare as exists in the UK through the NHS. We cannot even refer to the United States in this respect as healthcare there is not affordable and accessible to all. There is a connection between health and security that our governments in Nigeria don’t seem to understand. A sick person who feels let down by the system or someone who lost a loved one through medical negligence and lack of facilities, is more likely to either withdraw from social engagement or seek to revenge on society, and more often than not, this may be through engaging in what the law may adjudge to be criminal acts. When people are healthy, they are more likely to have high level of national patriotism, stay away from crime and engage in productive activities thereby contributing positively to national growth.

Q: Many Nigerians are hungry due to rising inflation in Nigeria, do you think the Buhari’s government is trying or failed the people?

I do not live in Nigeria but I am aware that most of the people back home are complaining of inflation and unpaid salary of workers. The Naira value continues to nose-dive, unemployment is breaking all records especially among the youths, etc. I don’t think there is one reason for all these but the main problem can be hinged on corruption and operating an oil-based mono-economy for a big country like Nigeria. The presidential political system run in the country is too expensive for the nation’s level of development and entrenches do-or-die struggle for power. I don’t want to mention anything about performance of a particular government as government is a continuum and a bad decision or practice at one stage may have repercussions down the line. I am not in government so don’t know what really happened but I think we should all stop the blame game, put our hands on the plough and move the nation from its economic nightmare.

Q: Can you tell us other projects you are into now in Britain?

We are planing Operation Feed London in UK, because we believe this will reduce homelessness, that leads to mental health, domestic violence and crime in the community. There is high rate of homelessness in the UK. We have the Empowerment Project for women and Early Intervention Project for young people not to go into crime.