The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has called for an improved healthcare delivery system to cater to the people, rather than the health tourism that many Nigerians often embark on.

Mr Martins made the call on Tuesday in a condolence message he signed to sympathise with Nigerians over the demise of former President Muhammadu Buhari in a London hospital.

The cleric, who decried the lack of adequate medical facilities in Nigeria, said it was “shameful” that the former president died in London.

“It is indeed a shame that the death of President Buhari makes it the second time that the president of our country would die in a hospital overseas,” the archbishop stated.

“The death of Buhari should ginger our governments to wake up to the need for doing something strategic to improve the healthcare delivery.”

Mr Martins added that this was also a wake-up call for the government at all levels to address brain drain in the health sector.

He said that inadequate medical facilities posed a threat to many and claimed lives, as many, especially politicians, could not avoid travelling abroad for medical care.

The archbishop commiserated with Mr Buhari’s family and all others who mourn as the former president is buried today, July 15.

“His death in a London hospital brings into focus again the need to develop healthcare delivery and facilities in our country to stem the tide of medical tourism,” said Mr Martins.

He said medical trips drain purses of those who can afford it and deepen the pains of Nigerians who cannot.

“If the former First Lady can lament the poor state of the State House clinic during their tenure, one can only imagine the state of clinics and hospitals meant for the common man,” he said.

He regretted that nearly every healthcare professional was waiting for an opportunity to leave the country (Japa syndrome) and use their expertise to care for people in other countries.

“Ironically, many times, it is the same medical professionals who should be taking care of us in the country that people meet in hospitals that they go to abroad,” the cleric added.

The archbishop prayed that the death of Mr Buhari would be the catalyst for bringing about the necessary improvement in the state of healthcare delivery in the country.

Earlier on Tuesday, ex-presidential aide Femi Adesina defended Mr Buhari’s frequent medical trips abroad, stating his principal could have died long ago if he had relied on Nigeria’s health facilities.

Mr Adesina, who stated this in an interview with Channels Television, said Mr Buhari chose to travel abroad for treatment due to Nigeria’s poor healthcare system and lack of medical expertise.

(NAN)