By Carl Umegboro
In a civilized climate, this wouldn’t stir interest but in Nigeria, where public officeholders largely work contrary to public interest, it should. Recently, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, underwent a leg surgery in a hospital in home-country. It was a departure from the flawed status quo. Over the years, at any slight ailment, people in authority fly abroad with public funds, which chiefly accounts why healthcare centres are left in decay. Osinbajo literally displayed leadership acumen.
The message is simple – a prudent leader can’t live foreign, abandoning the led to their fate in home facilities. The action is a template that must be sustained for a turnaround. Government is about the people. This accounts why Section 14 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, explicitly provides; “It is hereby, accordingly declared that (b) … the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
The nation’s leader, Muhammadu Buhari, is more or less a foreigner
as far as healthcare is concerned. In fact, the bills on his medical trips to
London, crew alongside the aircraft, aggregately should fix a world-class
clinic at the State House for government officials and critical issues. At a
point, the first lady, Aisha Buhari, on 9th October, 2017, by mission or
omission raised the alarm over the deplorable condition of the State House
Clinic. But after that, what changed? To shuttle a foreign land for healthcare,
from inauguration to the end, and presently on countdown to handover after an
aggregate eight years in office is an anomaly. Also, by writing off preceding
administrations, it was justifiable to begin with overseas healthcare after
inauguration, but unacceptable to sustain it to the end. Nonetheless, for
severe cases, foreign healthcare is expedient.
The health sector critically suffers the same neglect as the
education sector; most public officeholders abandon home institutions. Even
jamboree overseas too. Recently, the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike,
cheerily posted snapshots while on vacation with his Abia State counterpart,
Okezie Ikpeazu in Turkey, France amid sundry crises including ASUU strike which
grounded all universities in the country leaving students wandering about. Wike
also posed at his son’s overseas convocation when students were helplessly at
home. Obviously, public officeholders are largely, grossly insensitive,
manifestly do not grasp the term ‘leadership’, else, their healthcare,
education, jollity overseas alongside family members will be rare.
Back to healthcare, the government must pay compelling attention
to the healthcare sector for a strong and healthy nation which contributes to
the gross domestic product (GDP). For emphasis, healthcare includes
breastfeeding on account of its sundry and compelling health benefits. Thus, to
promote compulsory breastfeeding, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared
1-7 August annually as the World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) for awareness and
advocacy.
During a field trip to Lagos State recently, a report
by Mrs. Olubunmi Braheem, State Nutrition Officer, Ministry of Health, suggests
the 2022 – WBW in the state was impactful. From the intensive advocacy for
exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) practices, the state reportedly launched breastfeeding
toolkits for creation of breastfeeding spaces in workplaces, outlined
activities to support nursing mothers and advanced it with a symposium –
focusing on healthcare actors and community actors.
At
the Health Centre in Egbeda-Idimu LCDA, the claims were arguably buoyed. Ditto
at three other Health centres shuttled. However, outside those health centres,
the grassroots obviously need vigorous sensitization. So, beyond the WBW
activities, the challenge is sustainability of the promotion alongside plan
implementation to meet the target. It is therefore expected that there should
be success stories during the coming year’s WBW for evaluation. Patently, the
state ‘talks the talk’ in a joint statement by UNICEF Executive Director,
Catherine Russell and WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus on the occasion
of World Breastfeeding Week – 2022 but remains to be seen if it ‘walks the
walk’. Thus, time will tell. The joint statement emphasized;
“As global crises continue to threaten the
health and nutrition of millions of babies and children, the vital importance
of breastfeeding as the best possible start in life is more critical than ever.
This World Breastfeeding Week, under its theme – Step up for breastfeeding:
Educate and Support, UNICEF and WHO are calling on governments to allocate
increased resources to protect, promote and support breastfeeding policies and
programmes, especially for the most vulnerable families living in emergency
settings.
“During emergencies, breastfeeding guarantees
a safe, nutritious and accessible food source for babies and young children. It
offers a powerful line of defense against disease and all forms of child
malnutrition, including wasting. Breastfeeding also acts as a baby’s first
vaccine, protecting them from common childhood illnesses. And protecting,
promoting and supporting breastfeeding is more important than ever, not just
for protecting our planet as the ultimate natural, sustainable, first food
system, but also for the survival, growth and development of millions of
infants”.
It laments that fewer than half of all newborn
babies are breastfed in the first hour of life, leaving them more vulnerable to
disease and death. And only 44% of infants are exclusively breastfed in the
first six months of life, short of the World Health Assembly target of 50% by
2025, and to equip health and nutrition workers in facilities and communities
with the skills they need to provide quality counselling and practical support
to mothers to successfully breastfeed.
Added to these by the two global health bodies
is protecting caregivers and health-care workers from the unethical marketing
influence of the formula industry by fully adopting and implementing the
International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, including in
humanitarian settings; and implement family-friendly policies that provide
mothers with the time, space and support they need to breastfeed are likewise
requisite.
These horrid trends alongside needed
interventions necessitated the duo (UNICEF and WHO) in crying out, demanding
from governments, donors, civil society and the private sector to step up
efforts to prioritize investing in breastfeeding support policies and
programmes, especially in fragile and food insecure contexts. This outcry is
noble and deserves attention. Thus, synergy had better gather momentum in
public interests as proper development of infants is essential.
*Umegboro,
a public affairs analyst and social advocate, writes via umegborocarl@gmail.com
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