Thread by @subomiplumptre

I've just read FIXING HEALTHCARE IN #NIGERIA by
Dr. Ola Brown, @NaijaFlyingDr. I'd like to share my take-aways in this thread. Please read and RETWEET. #FixNigerianHealthcare drive.google.com/file/d/1fo7Efm…

In her book, @NaijaFlyingDr provides a simple guide to policy decisions that should provide better healthcare to ALL Nigerians. #FixNigerianHealthcare

First, the book presents the bad news and some frightening stats that should precipitate a state of emergency, if we had brain in #Nigeria. #FixNigerianHealthcare

The @WHO ranks #Nigeria's healthcare system 187th out of 190 countries. This
means our healthcare system is one of the 5 worst healthcare systems in the world. 1 in 10 Nigerian children under the age of 5 die
annually. #Selah #FixNigerianHealthcare

#Nigeria currently has some of the highest rates of death from road accidents globally. #FixNigerianHealthcare

The UK healthcare budget is almost $200bn yearly. This is #Nigeria’s entire budget for almost 10 years, or our federal health
budget for 200 years! So, how can Nigeria fund healthcare and make it accessible and ubiquitous? @NaijaFlyingDr has some answers. #FixNigerianHealthcare

.@NaijaFlyingDr believes one of the silver bullets in the government's gun should be an aggressive focus on primary health care. "Prevention is better than cure." Therefore, #Nigeria needs to stave off complications (and the need for specialist care) BEFORE they occur.

This reduces the financial burden on citizens and the government. #FixNigerianHealthcare

Specialist hospitals need to be more centralised to make them more accessible, while an efficient referral system must be put in place to ensure scarce resources are not overburdened. #FixNigerianHealthcare

.@NaijaFlyingDr admits that policy without implementation is dead. #Nigeria is in desperate need of administrative structures to drive implementation of key #healthcare policies. #FixNigerianHealthcare

This begs the question, "Does #Nigeria have the brain power and administrative competence to implement innovative strategies for healthcare?" #FixNigerianHealthcare

.@NaijaFlyingDr reveals that, at our current rate of development, it'll take #Nigeria 300 yrs to train the same number of doctors
per capita as currently exists in developed countries. And we have persistent brain drain & emigration issues to deal with. #FixNigerianHealthcare

.@NaijaFlyingDr believes a way to bridge the skills gap is to train non-doctors to deal with basic healthcare requirements, while trying to educate and upskill doctors over many years. #FixNigerianHealthcare

To finance healthcare, @NaijaFlyingDr advocates for innovative taxation and donor models, but admits there is massive distrust among the citizenry regarding government's ability to use funds well. #FixNigerianHealthcare

Finally @NaijaFlyingDr emphasizes a need to take advantage of innovations in global healthcare to meet #Nigeria's unique needs. Telemedicine,
remote support, patient mgt systems & protocolization of common
disease mgt guidelines, should be put in place. #FixNigerianHealthcare

The book closes with @NaijaFlyingDr's story of personal loss due to #Nigeria's failed healthcare system. She demonstrates her commitment to reforming the system & assures us that it is possible. Case studies from Costa Rica & India are used to support this. #FixNigerianHealthcare

I found @NaijaFlyingDr's book to be insightful and practical. Every medical student, practitioner and policy wonk should read it. The book provides accessible solutions to very complex healthcare problems in a realistic and sustainable way.

Download @NaijaFlyingDr's #FixNigerianHealthcare book now at drive.google.com/file/d/1fo7Efm…