Life expectancy now 54 years in Nigeria, say doctors

• ‘Saudi king used to visit Ibadan with family for treatment in 1970s’

Harsh living conditions in Nigeria have now put life expectancy at 54 years, the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGMPN) has said.

The association rated Togo, Ghana and South Africa ahead of Nigeria in the expectancy.

President of the association, Dr Iyke Odo, said at a press conference in Abuja that anyone who beating the age would have broken the jinx.

He however said that respite was underway if the government and all the stakeholders could come together to reinvent the healthcare sector.

Odo regretted the backwardness and infrastructural dilapidation in the country, saying that hitherto, Ghanaians, Saudi Arabians and Indians had Nigeria as their destination for healthcare deliveries.

He said, “Anywhere you go in the world, statistics, indices show that Nigeria has one of the lowest life expectancy rates. What does that mean? On the average, how long are you expected to live as a Nigerian given the life support, welfare system available, the quality of life, cost of living, given the leadership, environment and all that around an average Nigerian?

“You are expected to live for 54 years. And if you are more than 54, it means you have broken the jinx. You have defiled Nigeria to survive more than it expects you to survive or live.

“Togo here has a higher life expectancy. Ghana has much higher life expectancy. Go down to South Africa, much higher. It is a burden to us as doctors. “Take that away, maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate, Nigeria has about the highest in the world. It is a scourge, a big dent on our collective psyche and pride as a nation. It means that more women in pregnancy die in Nigeria than they do in most part of the world.

“It also shows that more children under the age of five die in Nigeria than they do in most part of the world.”

He also recalled, “Nigeria was ahead of India many years ago. Indians were coming to Nigeria for their healthcare. Saudi Arabia had Nigeria as a destination. The king of Saudi was coming to Ibadan with his family for treatment in the 70s. History is straight. Ghanaians, South Africans, Indians were coming here. So, what has happened?

“Like in any race, if the man in front gets tired sooner than he should or stumbles and falls, the competitors behind, naturally, will cruise past him. I think this is what has happened.

“Over N500 billion is spent abroad by Nigerians who go abroad for treatment and go for treatment that should be given here. We have lost confidence and trust in our local care delivery.”

Odo also bemoaned the sorry state of healthcare system in Nigeria, saying that many Nigerian doctors were frustrated, a sad development he noted as pushing them to leave Nigeria in search of greener pastures.

He said, “Doctors are shutting down. Some are selling their clinics and leaving this country. It is a challenge we must all rise to as a nation. We do not have enough doctors. The few we have are leaving in droves.”