Nigeria’s President Draws Criticism for Seeking Medical Care abroad

May 8, 2018

ABUJA, Nigeria — President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, who has urged politicians not to go abroad to seek medical care, has traveled to Britain on his fifth official trip to see a doctor there.

Mr. Buhari, 75, left for London on Monday for a four-day visit, setting off renewed concerns about his health. His trip also comes after three weeks of strikes by health care professionals who are calling for better working conditions and more funding.

For nearly two years, Mr. Buhari has been receiving treatment for an unspecified illness, which he has repeatedly refused to discuss.

The president is scheduled to return to Nigeria on Saturday, at which point he will have spent more than 170 days in London on official medical leave since becoming president in 2015.
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Mr. Buhari recently declared his intention to run for a second term next year, but many people in Nigeria, including some former presidents, have called on him to step down because of concerns about his health.

After Mr. Buhari visited Washington to meet with President Trump late last month, he surprised reporters by not returning directly to Nigeria but instead making what his media team called a “technical stopover” in London. His aides later confirmed that he received medical treatment while in Britain.

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Mr. Buhari’s aides have insisted that the president is healthy and capable of running for office again, claiming that his political enemies are exaggerating any health concerns to attack him.

In April 2016, months before his first medical trip to London, Mr. Buhari condemned the use of Nigerian resources on international medical expenses.

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“While this administration will not deny anyone of his or her fundamental human rights, we will certainly not encourage expending Nigerian hard-earned resources on any government official seeking medical care abroad, when such can be handled in Nigeria,” Mr. Buhari said, according to a statement from the Health Ministry at the time.
During his campaign the president promised to end “medical tourism,” the practice of Nigerian politicians receiving medical treatment abroad even as most citizens are forced to rely on underfunded state medical services.

After what was reported to have been motorbike accident in January, the president’s son, Yusuf Buhari, was also treated abroad, although the president’s aides would not confirm where he was treated.

Nigerians see Mr. Buhari’s actions on health care as hypocritical, said Yemi Adamolekun, executive director of Enough Is Enough, a coalition of groups committed to building a culture of good government and public accountability in Nigeria. “As he’s getting a superior standard of health care for himself and his son, he’s done virtually nothing to invest in health care infrastructure and provision in Nigeria,” Ms. Adamolekun said.



This year Nigeria spent 3.9 percent of its budget on health care, a fraction of the 15 percent target set by the United Nations.

“Health professionals have been on strike now for three weeks, and they aren’t even talking about it,” Ms. Adamolekun said, referring to the government. “So we have poor health infrastructure, an exodus of qualified medical staff and now a strike with no conversation on how to fix it, yet our president jumps off to the U.K. for his own health.”

A nationwide strike of 72,000 public health care workers has crippled medical services in state hospitals across Nigeria, and many more are expected to join the protest in the next few days.

Biobelemoye Josiah, president of a coalition of unions involved in the strike, said that health care in Nigeria had suffered under Mr. Buhari’s administration. “There has long been medical tourism because our hospitals are grossly underfunded and that has continued,” Mr. Josiah said.




https://mobile.nytimes.com/2018/05/08/world/africa/nigeria-president-buhari-health.html

Wailing uncontrollably in action

Just imagine

e no go better for Buhari

If d dumbo who's d first to comment isn't so stupid, he would have seen sense in d criticism of d international journal.. So New York times is also wailing becos dey are questioning d morality behind d President seeking medical attention abroad despite medical workers being on strike for months now

sarrki:
Wailing uncontrollably in action

STFU New york times na PDP too abi?

oh

sarrki:
Wailing uncontrollably in action

U deserve to be sent to d Gallows

When I read some of these disheartening articles, I feel very sad for my dear nation.

A nation where every one is a republic and the govt seems not to bother.

Sometimes, I wonder if it does really take rocket science to effectively govern a nation.

Pls, get your pvcs and lets us vote out these clueless politicians so they know that power actually resides with the people.

expert234:


I challenge you, sarrki; would you support this clear rubbish if it was done by Jonathan /PDP?

Your comments can make your next generations to place a curse on you.

Lolssss see pain

Are you myopic ewedus tired of your darling change messiah?

Wasn't buhari election Victory 2015 more popular than the life and times of your otapiapia rat poison hero?

Now put your hand on your head and repeat after me,SAI BABA
BIHARI TILL 2023!



ZmB

expert234:


You are not different from the idiotic fools on this forum that think everyone that oppose Buhari must be an igbo.

Toothpick kini kon lolssss

I need am ffor mashua lady BAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA

Iceberg3:


Toothpick kini kon lolssss

I need am ffor mashua lady BAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA

Doesn't make sense. Sounds like a gutter language. No wonder your senses are warped. Gutter water sniffing.

Those that are criticising the president on his medical leave have nothing to say,any body including the president have right to travel to anywhere in the world to seek for medical treatment.is like buying material from any store of your choice in as much you can afford it.is like someone buying cloth in katangora market and the other from mandillas,and mind you PMB can afford his medical bills even if he is not the president of this country now,he is not as that broke

opeyemicollins:
Those that are criticising the president on his medical leave have nothing to say,any body including the president have right to travel to anywhere in the world to seek for medical treatment.is like buying material from any store of your choice in as much you can afford it.is like someone buying cloth in katangora market and the other from mandillas,and mind you PMB can afford his medical bills even if he is not the president of this country now,he is not as that broke

But he is the president.

There are things he shouldn't be caught doing because it sends the wrong message .

If he wants to go to the UK without query, then he should resign and fund his own personal treatment as an ordinary civilian.

My brother,it doesnt work like that,this man meant well for this country,and i know with his experience abroad he will use that to improve our health sector,just lets believe and the patient with this administration

expert234:


Doesn't make sense. Sounds like a gutter language. No wonder your senses are warped. Gutter water sniffing.

Sounds like bleating.

Iceberg3:


Sounds like bleating.

Yes, you are right about your comment; it sounded like bleating.

expert234:


Yes, you are right about your comment; it sounded like bleating.

Full bearded he....

Iceberg3:


Full bearded he....

Don't be so hard on yourself, OK? I understand that it isn't easy to bleat like a goat

expert234:


Don't be so hard on yourself, OK? I understand that it isn't easy to bleat like a goat

Repeat that in a Billy chant HAAAHAHAHAHAHA

Iceberg3:


Repeat that in a Billy chant HAAAHAHAHAHAHA

Billy chant is your language. Go ahead and chant it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGuxiXflx_Q

Buhari's Medical Trip Has Exposed Nigeria To Ridicule