The global focus on Biafra increases
 

“…Do you think that a putative Oodua Republic would not have functioning hospitals? Do you think that a putative Arewa Republic could not afford at least a functioning hospital; and even if so, do you think that Saudi Arabia and Arewa’s other international friends would not help them build several?

Do you have any reason to doubt that Biafra would have several functioning modern hospitals?...” --Oguchi Nkwocha, MD.

In my earlier response to Paul Oranika on his post with the subject line of “YarAdua Medical Trip: One more indication of Healthcare Crisis in Nigeria,” I placed this problem within the context of the larger wholesale dysfunction in Nigeria and Africa in general which that post failed to mention, but rather misused the opportunity to start attacking CNN.

Now that Atiku Abubakar is doing the “fly overseas for a 30-minute treatment regimen,” thing, too, let us briefly look at some immediate and basic issues. (Oh--let’s hope that rumors of his leaving on exile do not start surfacing: that would detract from these issues).

• Can a hospital be maintained without decent water and a reliable source of supply? No.
• Can a hospital be maintained without a reliable source of electricity? No. (Generators are used only as temporary measure in hospitals, not the main source of electricity; even then, fuel supply is plentiful and reliable to run such generators perchance they are needed for a longer period.)
• Can a hospital be maintained without a reliable chain of resupply—which consists of reliable roads and reliable transportation, reliable and proper handling of such supply; even foreign exchange for payments? No.
• Can a hospital be maintained without adequate and reliable communication set-up? No.
• Can a hospital be maintained without adequate rules and regulations and policies protecting Standard of Care, which are thoroughly reviewed, maintained and adhered to? No.

Almost half-a-century since colonial British left, and, swimming in Biafra’s Oil money for 40 years, and living in a world of incredible modernization, Nigeria still cannot provide these basic infrastructural requirements to allow a hospital—private or government-built—to exist and function. Why? Do you think that a putative Oodua Republic would not have functioning hospitals? Do you think that a putative Arewa Republic could not afford at least a functioning hospital; and even if so, do you think that Saudi Arabia and Arewa’s other international friends would not help them build several?

Do you have any reason to doubt that Biafra would have several functioning modern hospitals?

Those who keep moribund, useless Nigeria alive and those who support and defend one-Nigeria will have to share not so much in the blame but in the responsibility of making life hellish for the masses whose singular existential misfortune—bad luck of cosmic proportions—is to be born and to be found in the geospace known as Nigeria.

Oguchi Nkwocha, MD.
Nwa Biafra
A Biafran Citizen.