NIGERIA MEDICAL ACCOSIATION URGES POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS TO FIX NIGERIA'S HEALTH SYSTEM, END MEDICAL TOURISM

The Nigerian Medical Association has urged political office holders in the country to end medical tourism and fix the country’s fragile health system.

The NMA also prays for Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s quick and complete recovery from leg surgery.

Recall that the vice-president had on Saturday undergone leg surgery at the Duchess International Hospital, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

Medical doctors, who performed the surgical operation on Osinbajo described it as successful.

However, in a statement released on Sunday by the President of the NMA, Dr. Uche Ojinmah made available to PUNCH HealthWise, the association commended the Vice-President for demonstrating confidence in the Nigerian doctor and the country’s health care system.

The statement read, “NMA wishes to thank God for seeing our

Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo through surgery.

“All Nigerian doctors are praying for his quick and complete recovery.

“NMA hereby also commends Mr.Vice,-President for demonstrating confidence in the Nigerian doctor and healthcare system.

“We are certain that he was impressed. We call on other political office holders in Nigeria to emulate the Vice President and end medical tourism.

“It is time to fix our fragile healthcare system to the benefit of the common man and our economy.”

Ojinmah said the time for action is now, urging those concerned to do the needful.

Osinbajo’s Spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande, had posted a statement from the hospital confirming that the vice-president had a successful leg surgery on Saturday at the Duchess International Hospital, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

“The vice-president was admitted to Duchess International Hospital, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, today on account of a fracture of his right femur (thigh bone), possibly related to a longstanding injury associated with a game of squash.

“He had a surgical operation performed by a team of specialist doctors, including Dr. Wallace Ogufere, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Om Lahoti, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and Dr. Babajide Lawson, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon.

“Others were Dr. Ken Adegoke, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Dr. Oladimeji Agbabiaka, Consultant Anaesthetist, and Dr. Adedoyin Dosunmu-Ogunbi, Consultant Physician and Medical Director.

“The operation was successful and Osinbajo is expected to be discharged within the next few days,” Dosunmu-Ogunbi said.

While Osinbajo sought treatment at home, his principal, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), has a preference for foreign medical care, a situation that has continued to anger many Nigerians.