The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, has commiserated with the family of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, urging the nation to draw lessons from his passing to improve Nigeria’s healthcare system. In a condolence message released recently by Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu, Director of Social Communications of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Archbishop Martins said, “We commiserate with the entire family of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari and all others who mourn as he is laid to rest.
May God grant him eternal rest and consolation to all who are saddened by his death.” Archbishop Martins noted that President Buhari’s death in a London hospital once again highlights the urgent need to develop Nigeria’s healthcare facilities and delivery systems to curb medical tourism. He lamented that such medical trips not only drain the finances of those who can afford it, but also deepen the pain of citizens unable to access quality healthcare abroad, leaving them with the feeling that they are “being left to die even from the most easily treatable illnesses.”
He recalled the lamentation of the former First Lady over the poor state of the State House clinic during their tenure, stressing that it reflects the dire condition of clinics and hospitals meant for ordinary Nigerians. “It is indeed a shame that the death of former President Buhari makes it the second time that a President of our country would die in hospitals overseas,” he said. The Archbishop called on governments at all levels to see the death and burial of former President Buhari as a wake-up call to improve healthcare delivery and facilities in Nigeria.
He also urged urgent action to stem the brain drain that continues to deplete the nation’s health sector. “Nearly every healthcare professional is waiting for an opportunity to ‘japa’ and use their expertise to care for peoples of other countries. Ironically, many times it is the same medical professionals who should be taking care of us here that people meet in hospitals abroad,” he noted. Archbishop Martins prayed that the death of the former President would become a catalyst for the necessary improvements in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
