Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian polymath, was one of the earliest thinkers to conceive the notion of a flying apparatus through his design of a 'flying machine.' Although this particular invention didn’t function as intended, it marked the start of modern aviation. Interestingly, one of his other concepts evolved over time into the widely used helicopters seen today. Prior to Leonardo's groundbreaking ideas and before the Wright brothers—Orville and Wilbur—who attempted their inaugural flight on December 17, 1903, numerous individuals had also undertaken unsuccessful endeavors in crafting functional airborne vehicles.
As humanity has claimed mastery over the skies, numerous air crashes and incidents have taken place and will likely persist. Indeed, the worst aviation tragedy in recorded history unfolded on March 27, 1977, when a KLM Boeing 747 trying to take off crashed into another taxiing Pan Am Boeing 747 at Los Rodeos Airport on Tenerife’s Canary Islands, resulting in the tragic deaths of all 538 people aboard both planes.
In aviation mishaps and events, pilot error reportedly makes up 53 percent, whereas mechanical failures and adverse weather conditions contribute 21 percent and 11 percent each.
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 administration at Dodan Barracks in Obalende, Lagos. In his inaugural address as head of state, Buhari criticized the "incompetent" Shagari government for transforming public hospitals into nothing better than walk-in clinics. Sadly, over four decades later, this issue persists; today, whether they're publicly run or privately owned, these medical facilities have regressed further. Instead of being mere consultation centers, they've become places akin to abattoirs with numerous physicians acting almost as executioners. These healthcare providers often resemble automobile repair technicians who rely heavily on guesswork rather than precise diagnosis techniques to identify issues within patients' bodies.
From instances of infant switching at numerous hospitals—both public and private—to cases of blatant kidnapping, inexplicable vanishings, misdiagnoses, as well as the mutilation of patients with subsequent theft or removal of organs such as kidneys and intestines, some Nigerian doctors have become akin to Riva de Biasio—a grotesque, disfigured serial killer from Venice, California, USA. This notorious figure was known for his gruesome murders and mutilations of young women and children in open settings. His horrific acts were chronicled in the renowned book "The Butcher of Venice" authored by Irmgard Rawn.
Some patients and their caregivers may have such poor attitudes that they believe you will end up regretting seeking treatment with them.
Even though we were in this dire situation, many of our doctors remained highly skilled, thorough, and remarkably precise in performing their responsibilities.
The blatant incompetence and deceit exhibited by culpable medical professionals in Nigeria’s healthcare system didn’t begin recently. Roughly three decades back, a close friend who worked as a seasoned photojournalist recounted to me how his spouse firmly believed their newborn had been switched post-delivery at the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital. She claimed she distinctly remembered giving birth to a girl, yet upon regaining consciousness, found herself with a male infant instead. Such unethical practices continue unchecked across numerous facilities in the nation. It comes as little surprise then that we've witnessed a dramatic rise in paternity disputes throughout the country.
Moreover, numerous medical professionals and patients experience similar issues; for example, the esteemed Lagos-based lawyer and human rights advocate, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), passed away on September 5, 2009, following an extended struggle with lung cancer. Initially, he was incorrectly diagnosed with a simple sore throat and cough in Nigeria but received the correct diagnosis of advanced lung cancer overseas when treatment options were limited due to extensive metastasis throughout his body. Unfortunately, countless comparable instances 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, on surgical tables within medical facilities across the country. According to reports, May Ellen Mofe-Damijo (MEE), who worked as both a journalist and the publisher of Classique magazine, succumbed to complications during what turned out to be unsuccessful uterine fibroid surgery at Providence Hospital in Surulere, Lagos, back on March 23, 1996; she was only 30 years old at the time. Additionally, Wale Aboderin, known for his role as chairman of Punch Newspapers Limited, apparently met with fatal circumstances when he underwent cardiac procedures at the First Cardiology Consultants clinic located in Ikoyi, Lagos, on May 30, 2018. More recently, shortly before passing away, Waheed Ayilara—who held the position of Police Commissioner for Akwa Ibom State—also tragically died due to issues encountered during prostate surgery performed at LASUTH, which stands for Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
Were it not for divine intervention, Yusuf Olaniyonu, a former Information Commissioner of Ogun State and also a journalist, might have passed away much earlier following 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 facility in Cairo, Egypt. Many of our fellow citizens do not enjoy such advantages. The situation involving Akin Bright, a 13-year-old boy who reportedly lost part of his intestines during transfers from a private clinic called Obitoks to LASUTH, culminated tragically on September 19, 2023, as the young lad succumbed to his condition.
As I pen this down, my heart is deeply wounded since one of my wife’s nieces, an entirely orphaned girl, lies motionless in a morgue in Imo State. Two hospitals were unable to save either her life or that of her newborn during and post-delivery. This dual loss of both the child and the mother is overwhelmingly painful for all of us. It seems endless when we consider the numerous dire situations within our healthcare facilities, which highlight our powerlessness and despair.
To avoid unnecessary medical travel and address this issue effectively, federal and state authorities ought to upgrade all university teaching hospitals so they can handle modern healthcare challenges and align themselves with advanced technological advancements seen in more developed nations. The era where members of the Saudi royal family frequently sought treatment at facilities such as our very own University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan—a hospital that has since fallen from grace—should not persist. It’s time these institutions stop facing issues like power supply disruptions due to unpaid bills, unlike what we see in some teaching hospitals today.
Additionally, both the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the country’s universities should reassess the medical school curriculums. This is necessary because certain training methodologies used to educate physicians do not align with present-day standards.
Every time a report of negligence involves any physician or healthcare provider, both the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and related oversight organizations are obligated to look into these cases thoroughly. If guilt is established, disciplinary actions should be taken against the offending professional. The insufficient responsiveness from entities like the MDCN has led relatives of deceased patients to resort to taking matters into their own hands, sometimes resulting in violent attacks on doctors and nurses—particularly when they firmly believe that neglect was responsible for their family members' deaths. As a collective effort, we must restore our failing healthcare system to safeguard our well-being.
*Omolale, a journalist, submitted this article through somolale@gmail.com
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