We All Failed Junior Pope
BY DR MBAMALU CHIBUIKE CHIZOBA
The truth is that we all failed him. Both the movie industry, the content creators, the health industry, the Nigerian government (most especially the legislators), the media, etc.
We have a lot to do in this country.
Most Nigerian movies are not educational. Most Nigerian movies showcase the importance of prayers and spirituality in matters of sickness, rather than going to the hospital.
I have never seen any Nigerian movie where they showed the importance of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) or stylishly educated the masses on how CPR is administered. Whenever anyone has a stroke, heart failure or heart attack, spinal cord injury, arthritis etc, it was spiritually sent by someone.
What policies have the government brought up to help in curbing such problems? (Though, we shouldn’t blame the government alone). All of us should be blamed.
What have we done in terms of public health as health professionals in educating the general public? Till now, some Nigerians believe that stroke is spiritual, and we have doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, public health experts, etc. We are all a bunch of disgrace to the entire society.
Even most road safety personnel don’t know how to do CPR or rescue an accident victim from an accident site.
Whether we are in or out of Nigeria, we have a lot to do in order to make a difference.
Running away may be good, but not the lasting solution to Nigeria’s problem.
It’s humans that developed the UK, US, Australia, etc.
CPR, first aid, etc. should be taught in primary and secondary schools.
Has any professional body notified the government or ministry of education on the importance of adding First aid, CPR etc in our education curriculum? Rather, we are all fighting ourselves as health professionals and copying Oyibo curriculum
We need to develop our own curriculum that will help to reorient our people and develop our beloved country.
We need to demystify so much attachment of sicknesses to spiritual issues.
Questions to ponder;
1) Can any Nigerian meet up with the golden hour of treatment in any eventuality?
2) Are our medical facilities ready to live up to expectations?
3) Why can’t the money bags go into building standard hospitals in Nigeria, since the government has failed in the healthcare sector.
4) The politicians that travel abroad for medical tourism, is that the answer to our problems?
5) Sending our children abroad to school, is that the lasting solution?
6) Is japa the answer?
Africa should rise up. If we don’t address the above, we might become the next victim.
Learn simple skills like CPR, swimming, drinking, etc. It could save you one day.
All hands should be on deck.
Even if it’s only what we contributed to the development of our beloved country and die, I think we have contributed our quota, and this could be why we are born in Nigeria and not elsewhere.
Japa is not the answer.
Running away from the problems is not the lasting solution, but makes us look like cowards.
May God grant us the grace to do the needful.
Dr Chizoba is the immediate past chairman of Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, FCT Chapter.
