El- Rufai’s Good Example

The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is, in all probability reading the healthcare barometer of his state accurately. By ordering the closure of Government House Clinic and the immediate redeployment of all medical staff from the clinic to government general hospitals within the state, he has given indication that elitist propensities in the healthcare delivery system in the state has come to a deserved end.  For effect, he also gave the order that all drugs and equipment be moved from the Government House Clinic to the closest general hospital which is the Yusuf Danstsoho Hospital in Tudun Wada, in the state capital.

By this action, the Governor has made a bold statement that will address in a fundamental manner, the poor healthcare delivery system in the state. Governance and statecraft are all about service to the people not to a handful of elite. The people are instrumental to the emergence of these politicians who they put in office through the ballot system. To that extent, therefore, the politicians have a duty to enhance one aspect of the general wellbeing of the populace which in this Kaduna case, is healthcare delivery which if replicated across the country, will move the nation forward. However, in Nigeria, most people who are elected into office tend to forget their cardinal mandate. They are mostly concerned with the benefits they will acquire from their lofty positions of power. To them, politics is business not service.

The healthcare delivery in Nigeria is relatively poor compared to the overall economic status; it is close to the bottom of the world healthcare index, all the demographic variables, from life expectancy to infant and maternal mortality are low. Sadly, we have all the resources to improve on this abysmal record but for corruption and selfishness. A clear example is the state house clinics, which are often situated in government houses across the nation, including the one in the federal capital, these health centres only cater for the president or governors and those who closely work with them. The budgetary allocations of these clinics are massive, sometimes even greater than some federal medical centres. The irony is that these elite often do not go to these clinics since they have the resources to fly abroad when they suffer even common ailments.

We urge the Federal Government to take a critical look at the healthcare delivery system and work out a way to make it more efficient and more responsive to the demands of the people. Any attempt to decrease the growing poverty rate and place the country on the path of sustainable growth must begin with provision of universal healthcare services. There is an urgent need to prioritise the redeployment of resources into this sector. el-Rufai’s audacious policy thrust  may be one gesture that can put the entire sector nationwide on a path of sustained improvement. For this, he has earned our commendation.


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