USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

Igietsime's summation of a program to address fundamental amenities is very impressive.Joan's scepticism about the value of a water fountain in contrast to water in every home is understandable.

I wonder,though,if development,including government planned development has to work in the linear manner indicated so eloquently by Igietsime.

As for the Benin fountain,must the entire state or even the city be adequately provided with water  before such aesthetic issues are addressed? Can such creation of beauty not affect the mind positively? Igietsime has described how that initiative can be serviced even if with inadequate water supply,so that might suggest its usefulness could be sustained.

Must development proceed in terms of a pyramid model,in which you secure the bottom layers before proceeding to the top?Using the same concept,people have argued that Nigeria should focus on primary education to develop basic skills and de-emphasize the advanced skills need for an  advanced economy,but have the so called advanced economies grown in that manner? No.

On Obasanjo's library,even without the sophistication of Jimmy Carter library style amenities,does that invalidate the library? No.Even if you have to park your car and trek part way,if there is no water in the library,no computers,no electricity,it remains a valuable collection of books,the ultimate significance of which will depend upon the quality of the collection and ease of access to it.Valuable as all those other issues are,they are complementary  rather than invaluable.

True,a lot of growth has taken place and new developments must keep pace with current realities  but it remains relevant that Harvard University started from one classroom (?) and one  library, a library donated by John Harvard,which library later got burnt down anyway.

These are the points raised against the new centre:

 "And there will be REGULAR WATER AND ELECTRICITY TO MAINTAIN THE CENTERS; and there will be access roads to the center; RIGHT?" 

Why not?

Cant roads be developed? Is Fashola not already working on roads? Dont we already have business in Nigeria,from hotels to banks,that consume huge  amounts of electricity? How are they doing it? True,access to power is much more  sensitive for a hospital and even more so for a specialized  medical enterprise such as  is being projected. Is it not also possible to get private power generation (not generators) for a facility like this? Nigeria has Bart Nnanji and others who are into private power generation.

As for water,as far as I know,a major problem with water in Southern Nigeria is the relationship between strength of water conduction,quality of pipe layout and range of access to sources of water. A number of strategies are used to address this such as overhead and underground tanks and boreholes.The tank system  pipes the water to an elevated tank from where it run down more easily to pipes in the building.This may be powered by an engine.The underground tank may require water to be filled in the tank by a water tanker and pumped through an engine into the building.

The borehole,as I understand it,is like a well dug till one reaches the water table,as I understand it is called.The key with all these possibilities is assessing he best water sources,here is gauging the amount of water available,how much is needed,how best to get it to its destination  and the proper equipment to circulate it,along with the energy source to power the process.I dont think water is an insurmountable problem.

Igietsime states:

"The point is that building a world class tertiary healthcare facility that will serve less than One percent of the people..."

Must this be so? Scope of access  hinges on the scope of subsidy provided for those services.As Kassim observes,Nigerians need the care that only such centres can provide.It is costing us lives not to have such a centre because many cannot go abroad.It is costing us money because those who can, do go abroad,taking their money there. If the relative cost of these losses is factored against the cost of subsiding  these services I expect something can be worked out to make this service available to many who would otherwise have no choice.

Igietsime continues:

 "...in a community where infectious diseases are rampart due to poor sanitation, waste and sewer systems, et cetera is like placing an opened sterile syringe and needle in a trash can, hoping the needle will work fine. This is a very clear issue".

Is it really so clear? Are  Nigeria and Lagos in particular so horrible? I have my doubts.I disagree from what I know of Lagos that this is an accurate description of Lagos. Infectious diseases are not rampant in Lagos. Infectious diseases are not rampant in Nigeria as a whole. The evidence of the recent cholera outbreak in some parts of Nigeria,for example,does not constitute infectious diseases being rampant in all Nigeria and certainly  not in Lagos.

True,from my memory of Lagos where I have not been for more than five years and which has improved since then, "poor sanitation, waste and sewer systems" could be a problem but does that imply that only basic health facilities should be pursued until these problems are addressed? I doubt it.Does this imply we should not have surgeons and other levels of specialized health care because of such basic problems? No.It seems to me that all levels of development need to proceed side by side.

Igietsime also states:

"...how you can build organ centers in a society where there are no basic ambulatory services, no reliable clinics, no connecting road networks or regular clean water and electricity; in fact...a foundationless society that lacks all forms of basic utilities that form the pack-maker for any serious modern societal effort (economic, industrial, educational, telecom etc)"

This is not an accurate description of Nigeria. It is not true that there are no reliable clinics.Even from my house in Eholo street in Benin,I could stroll down to a clinic less than five mins walk from me,as well as to another 10 mins walk on Ekenwan road,not to talk of others along the same road and further down all over the city.And they were open late.In fact,right now,I can visualize with significant clarity the network of clinics I knew all over the city,from Owina,to Ekenwan,to Sapele road,to GRA and Airport Road,to Sapele Road and Ugbowo,along with one or two private,multi-story hospitals in GRA.This was eight years ago.Not to talk of Lagos,which,along with clinics,has  a number of public and private hospitals.

It is not true that Nigeria,much less Lagos,has no connecting road networks.A lot of work needs to be done but the roads are there,at various levels of quality. Are Nigerians living in a sate of nature,like animals? Even in villages they have roads.

The last I knew of Nigeria I was not familiar with sophisticated ambulance systems there.That can be developed and people trained to man them.Yes,water and electricity are a problem,but as I  have argued,in themselves they are not necessarily an impediment to this initiative.

Nigeria is not "a foundationless society that lacks all forms of basic utilities that form the pack-maker for any serious modern societal effort (economic, industrial, educational, telecom etc)"

It lacks pervasive and consistent provision of some basic utilities.That is not the same as total lack.Yes,its economy needs to be diversified,alongside other initiatives but it is a functional economy.Its capacity to accommodate and feed growth is demonstrated by the achievement of Nollywood,for example.The country's industrial sector needs to mature considerably and this is hampered by limitations in power generation leading to high overheads and the weak production  of complementary industries. This challenge can be met,however,through innovative approaches but I wont pretend I can make any concrete comments on this yet.Telecommunications can be described as growing and should grow further if the power of the state operator(?)  is severely limited.The educational system is challenged but should not be underestimated.

Another point raised was the cultural context: "How many Nigerians would even agree to donate their organs in case of any eventuality. Secondly, there is no ethical guidelines and standard developed. Everyday we read people stealing and selling people's fingers"

Education can be described as central here.A vigorous  and continuos effort can be developed to encourage people to donate organs.In the West,for example,this campaigns continue relentlessly. Innovative and persuasive media campaigns can be developed and sustained to remove the idea of  organ separation from the body from ideas of magic and witchcraft. People could be encouraged to understand that the organs are useless to them when they die but could save their friend,relative or child or those of some other people.Organ donation can also be interpreted as a gift to sustain the web of life,a concept central to classical African cosmologies,but I wonder how much Nigerians know of this concept on account of the denigration those cosmologies have suffered.

The possibility of organ theft and misappropriation can be managed through strict procedures for accepting organs for use and,as Noyo suggests,in monitoring accepted organs.

Sooner or later,this educational process must take place if the value of organ replenishment is to be realized.

A most inspiring perspective:

 "Lagos can benefit from the recent feat in the successful and first kidney transplant in Nigeria carried out at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital by our home experts".

 

 Dr. Abubakar Mu'azu

Thanks

Toyin

On 1 December 2010 22:01, Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCEZID) <jbi8@cdc.gov> wrote:

 

My Brother OJ,

There is no Mass Transit in any City in Nigeria! Gov Fashola says he is working on the dream of a Motorail expounded by former Gov Jakande more than 25 years ago. Let us encourage to focus on it; he can be thinking about Boat Hotels, Floating houses et cetera; we should STRONGLY advocate for the basic facilities and utilities to be in place FIRST! His next project priorities should be as follows: first, pipe-borne water in Suru-lere, Yaba, Itire, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Oworon Shiki, Ebutte Meta, Iganmu, Apapa, Ikorodu, Agege, Amuwo, Mile 2, etc; second, waste and sewer management systems in all the LGAs; third, road networks and flood/erosion control in several of the LGAs; fourth, partnership with the Feds or the Business Community on Power supply; the approach to this will be first to seek a legislation to limit generator use and establishment of regional power supply set-ups; for example, all the businesses in Iganmu will now have one central Generator per 5 square miles. The meters will accurately measure what each company is using. The next step is to develop an infrastructural budget that combines both public and public-private partnerships to raise the funding through bond sale, tax credits and other incentivized programs to execute the new power supply arrangement.

If handled with seriousness and commitment, these steps will lead to enviable legacy building performance for any Nigerian leader. This the functional approach among best practices around the world. Anything less visionary and purposeful will keep Nigeria spinning on her wheels. Take care. JUI

 

From: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of John Ebohon
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 11:28 AM

To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
Cc: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com; edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com; afenmai@yahoogroups.com; nigerianid@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [NaijaPolitics] RE: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year 

People have to be alive to use infrastructure and services. Indeed, Kidney and Heart Transplanting Centre counts for an health infrastructure. Also, I thought the accomplishments of Fashola which other States are emulating  constitute "FACTS". Wouldn't any mass transit other than what he has already put in place be superfluous?

OJ

From: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Igietseme, Joseph (CDC/OID/NCEZID)
Sent: 01 December 2010 15:58
To: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com
Cc: NaijaPolitics@yahoogroups.com; usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com; edo-nationality@yahoogroups.com; afenmai@yahoogroups.com; nigerianid@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] RE: Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

 

And there will be REGULAR WATER AND ELECTRICITY TO MAINTAIN THE CENTERS; and there will be access roads to the center; RIGHT? Fashola should FOCUS on Mass transit system and Regular water supply for Lagosians; other these other stuffs will come with such infrastructures in place. JUI (tired of Naija leaders' jokes!)

 

From: NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:NIgerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Farayiola
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 10:22 AM
To: NIgerianWorldFo rum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [NIgerianWorldForum] Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

 

 

Lagos To Become Leading Kidney, Heart Transplant Centre Next Year

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Monday declared that Lagos would become the leading referral centre for kidney, heart transplant and all kidney related diseases early next year.

Governor Fashola who spoke when he received participants in the Kidney Rejoice Health Walk at the open fields of Lagos House, Alausa Ikeja said this would be possible from the end of the first quarter of next year when work is completed on the Specialist Hospital being constructed in Gbagada, adding that the staff and consultants that would manage the facility are being recruited.

The Governor explained that there is a lot of work going on there at the moment adding that the future lies there for all medical students, and doctors and nurses in the State.

"We know that you have the capacity. We also want to bring back as many of our expert doctors, nurses who have left the country as a result of frustration.
"We are spending a considerable amount of money sponsoring people abroad to United States, United Kingdom and India for kidney transplant and replacement.
"We have also noticed that they are going to environments where their families are not immediately around them. They are also taking food after surgery that is not what they may have wanted to eat which contributes substantially to the healing process.
"We also see that it is our economy that is losing and that is why our government has decided that it will locate the kidney and heart transplant facility in Lagos and that is exactly what is going on no w at Gbagada", the Governor said.

Governor Fashola reiterated that it is the belief of the administration that such a first class facility is the best asset that it can give to its nurses and doctors because they have the skills but only need an opportunity to practice the skills.

While commending Nollywood artistes who also participated in the Health Walk, for spreading positive messages in millions of homes through their films, Governor Fashola urged them to see it as an opportunity to work with the Ministry of Health to see the content of the kidney, hypertension and diabetes screening programme which the Government has committed to in the last three years.

He said the programme has screened thousands of patients across the State giving treatment where necessary but using advocacy as the most powerful tool that can help prevent the two main diseases or make it manageable when contracted.

"There is no reason why a diabetes patient should not live a useful, active and normal life if the right management therapy is put in place. Some of the things that we consider as being status significance are in fact things that hurt us, Governor Fashola said.

He called on the Nollywood artistes to consider producing what he called a docu-drama that would help in strengthening the advocacy on the need to exercise regularly, moderation in the kind of food people eat, saying such a production in English, Yoruba, Hausa and Pidgin would go a long way in sensitizing the people.

He promised that the state would provide some assistance to support the production of the docu-drama, adding that this represents one of the ways they can help to spread the message about why people should change some of the life choices they make.
The Governor also advised against the use of bleaching creams saying the black skin has been particularly adapted to suit where Africans are located., "We should not try to be an ybody else", he advised.

Governor Fashola said in recognition of these health problems which are fast becoming a global problem, his administration is building parks and sports centres to allow the people live an active life.

He also cautioned against the conversion of pedestrian walkways into markets, stressing that Lagos is definitive about building new roads that have walkways as it would engender the culture of people taking a walk in their neighbourhoods.

A Platinum Humanity Award was presented to Governor Fashola by the coordinator of the Kidney Rejoice programme through the President of the Campaign for Democracy, Dr (Mrs.)Joe Okei Odumakin.

Speaking on the award Dr Okei- Odumakin said Governor Fashola was the first Governor in Nigeria that she would be presenting an award to.

She described Governor Fashola as action Governor as this is evident from what anyone who takes a trip round Lagos would observe as "action spea ks louder than words".

Awards were also presented to MTN, Indomie Noodle, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin and Dr Adeyinka Adeshope

 

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