check

Looking at the Nigerian situation, one may be compelled to agree with

Franco A et al in ‘Effect of democracy on health: ecological study’ when

they posited that the level of inequality within a country may be an

important determinant of health, and therefore that the potential

confounding effect of wealth and its distribution within a country should

be taken into account in assessing the impact of democracy on health. The

differential access to health care in Nigeria, even in public health

institutions like the National Hospital and various teaching and

specialist hospitals is a ready example. Majority of the citizenry cannot

afford the cost of services in these hospitals, and die as a result of

lack of care.



Writing in African Security Review journal, David Zounmenou opined that

in almost all constitutions across the world, one of the most important

requirements for any candidate in a presidential election is a clean bill

of health delivered by a competent and honest medical institution.

Zeroing in on Nigeria, the most recent event is the prolonged illness of

our former President, his trip to Saudi Arabia for treatment and most

embarrassingly, the inability of the Nigerian health system to sustain

his health upon return, despite that fact that his health condition was

already known, and Nigeria has the resources to provide the best care

possible.