IT COULD BE YOU ON THAT SICK BED (2)

I just read some days ago about Mozambique, a Southern African country/nation that gained independence from Portugal on 25^th June, 1975, more than fifteen (15) years after Nigeria gained their independence from Britain.

Mozambique which has its capital city as Maputo, has an estimated population of 24 million. The country also has a nominal GDP estimated at $11.170 billion. They were colonized by Portugal thereby making their official language Portuguese.

Since 2001, Mozambique’s annual average GDP growth has been among the world’s highest. However, the country ranks among the lowest in GDP per capita, human development, measures of inequality and average life expectancy. Religious wise, they have Christians, Muslims and African traditionalists.

Delving briefly into Nigeria.

Nigeria gained independence from Britain on 1^st October, 1960; presently, with an estimated population of 185 million and a nominal GDP of about $484.895 billion. Nigeria’s official language is English. The country is also roughly divided in half between Christians and Muslims.

Nigeria overtook South Africa to become Africa’s largest economy in 2014. Nigeria is considered to be an emerging market by the World Bank; it has been identified as a regional power on the African continent, a middle power in international affairs and has also been identified as an emerging global power.

As at 2015, Nigeria was the world’s 20^th largest economy worth more than $500 billion and $1 trillion in terms of nominal GDP and purchasing power parity respectively. *Economists would relate to that*.

Enough said already about both countries.

Heavens will not fall if the truth is told about recent developments in the medical sectors of both aforementioned countries.

As I was saying, I read about Mozambique some days ago to introduce Chinese acupuncture to public hospitals.

Acupuncture which is widely used in China consists of stimulation of specific acupoints with needles. Many Western countries have already adopted this therapeutic approach.

The announcement was made specifically on September 22^nd, 2017 by Martinho Dgedge, the Health Ministry’s General Inspector at the end of the first training session on traditional Chinese medicine in the state capital, Maputo.

Now, considering the analysis and brief history of both countries herein, you will appreciate the fact that both countries are still growing; Mozambique at a rapid rate and Nigeria as usual, at a “snail” rate.

Mozambique may not be the richest African country but they are also blessed with enough mineral resources but they are still striving to provide their citizens with well serviced and equipped medical facilities.

Introduction of Chinese acupuncture is a huge step towards developing the country’s health sector. I praise the Mozambique health sector and loving government for that.

The ultimate question now is, how has the Nigerian government helped in equipping and developing medical facilities in the country?

The most prevalent news Nigerian citizens hear every time is about Medical Practitioners’ strike due to lack of payment of medical staff.

People seriously need to visit hospitals, not for treatment sake but for sight-seeing. You will agree with me that the sights there are just unpleasant. A lot of people are suffering on daily basis. Accidents occur on weekly basis in Nigeria because of bad roads and/or reckless driving. If not road accident, it would eventually be domestic accident. These people all need urgent medical attention. Now, how will patients be treated when the medical personnel have not been paid for months?

With the increasing high rate of unemployment in the country, where will majority of the populace afford to get medical attention at a cheaper rate except in government hospitals?

SEE YOU IN PART 3 …