Health is a fundamental resource to an individual, the community and the society at large. When people are healthy, they are better able to work, learn, build a good life and contribute to the society.
A healthy community is a place where people provide leadership in assessing their own resources and needs, where public health and social infrastructure and policies support health, and where essential public health services, including quality health care, are available. Today’s health challenges, ranging from jet-setting microbes and soaring obesity rates to emerging environmental risks and bioterrorism, highlights the interconnectedness of people, NGO’s and government and the need for joint effort to meet these challenges.
Disease and disability do not differentiate between culture, religion and ethnic background. Microbes and environmental toxins move easily among and across nations, regions and no one person is safe unless all are safe, hence the concept, “Health for all project”.
Our creative ideas die and fade away without the sympathy of the society no matter how good they are, and the society stagnates without the creative ideas. Moreover, the solutions for assuring population health are not owned by the government and its agencies alone, but can be found in NGO’s and partnerships.
In authentic government, NGO’s and society based partnership, the participation and contribution of various stakeholders are likely to produce benefits in the form of increased effectiveness and productivity in health care delivery and avoiding the imposition of solutions that are not congruent with the local cultural needs of communities.
In the light of the above, appropriate and effective communications which requires the willingness to listen to and learn from members of diverse culture and the provision of services and information in appropriate language, at appropriate comprehension and literacy levels and in the context of an individual’s cultural health beliefs and practice and also the community’s social cultural and historical circumstances.
In our commitment to improve the living standard of Nigerians and the world at large through partnership and collaboration, we introduced “Health for All Project”. A project designed to take health care delivery services holistically to all communities with specialist doctors in all tropical diseases and ailments, if supported by the society and government. Health care dynamics, through technological advancement, have improved patient care by aiding diagnostic, therapeutic and ancillary processes. Our physicians and other clinical personnel are now able to make more precise and better informed decision due to improved diagnostic techniques.
After our research on health care delivery in Nigeria, it became obvious that Government alone cannot provide adequately for the health needs of its citizens due to some reasons as discussed below:-
Non Prioritizing of health sector: The budget allocation for the health sector has always been poor because those in authorities have not seen it necessary to invest more on health sector, considering the fact that all of them travel abroad for health treatment and their families are there too. If every executive office holder or political appointees are mandated by law to bring all their family members back to Nigeria and are also banned from travelling abroad for medical treatment, the sector shall have a priority attention and we shall have one of the best health care service delivery system in the world. We have all it takes.
Misappropriation of funds: The Little budget allocation for the health sector has always been misappropriated through misplaced priority of health projects, sitting of project where it does not have direct impact on those that need it most, lack of accountability and transparency on projects award and execution due to impunity.
Rural/Urban area dichotomy: Government saw health sector as one of its revenue generating agency and in pursuance of revenue, builds all the good hospitals and facilities in urban areas thereby depriving more than 80% of its population good health care delivery services. The health facilities in the rural area are deficient in staff, drugs, equipment and infrastructure.
Lack of political will to do the needful: Government on its part has over time lacked the political will to create good health policies that are people oriented. The good ones were never implemented. The political will begins with appointment based on merit and not political, ethno-cultural alienation and sentiments, using the right and most qualified persons for the right jobs.
Mass exodus of health workers to overseas: In recent times, the rate of jetting out of doctors, nurses and other health workers to USA and Europe is alarming and has consequently led to deficiency in health care workers supply in the labour market. Most of those that travelled are the best brains we have. Poor remuneration, poor working environment, lack of incentives, and delay in payment of salaries are some of the major causes of the mass exodus.
Non inclusion of alternative therapies that are cost effective: Much focus is placed on treatment of diseases and illness, using western medicine, instead of the patient as a whole. Other options known as complimentary or alternation therapies incorporate a holistic approach to patient health care, whereby they assess and treat the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of an individual. Some of this alternative therapies include:- acupuncture, massage therapy, colon cleansing and fasting.
Acupuncture:- Is used in treatment of a number of illnesses and conductive such as:-
- Back pain
- Sciatica
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Arthritis
- Migraines and headaches
- Tendinitis
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Skin conditions
- Diabetes
- Urinary conditions
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Menopausal symptoms
- Nausea and vomiting
- Morning sickness
- Digestive problems
- Infertility
- Addictions
- Weight problem
- Depression and anxiety
Due to increased support by health care organizations and associations and acceptance by medical professionals and patients, this therapy is becoming a mainstay in United State’s culture and can be same here in Nigeria.
Massage therapy:- Therapists stimulates and manipulates certain muscles and tissues throughout the body to provide specific health benefit. Massage is after used for relaxation but is also used medicinally to treat a variety of ailments including:-
- Pain
- Tension
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Muscle strain
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Pregnancy complications
- Arthritis
- Immune system disorders
- Gastro intestinal problems
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Backaches
As a result of increased demand for massage therapy service the profession is experiencing favorable growth. The therapy is made popular due to its relaxation that helps prevent or reduce illness and disease.
Colon cleansing:- The concept of cleansing the colon or gut operates on the premise that the stomach is the center of life, controlling the functions of all other bodily functions. Therefore, it should be flushed of all undigested food and waste that create a toxic or poisonous environment. Symptoms related to a toxic colon include depression, irritability, fatigue and mental confusion that can manifest into other condition such as colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders.
A popular means of detoxifying the colon is by colon cleansing whereby a trained professional flushes the system with a continued flow of purified water via an enema. This is continued until all stomach contents are completely emptied. Practitioners of this complementary therapy recommend that individual utilize it on a regular basis in order to experience optimal results.
Fasting:- Fasting relieves the digestive processes, generating energy reserves that are then directed towards other vital processes. It creates the optimal condition for the body to restore and repair damages caused by unhealthy eating habits, stress, smoking, caffeine and alcohol consumption and other poor lifestyle choices. Records show account of people experiencing complete healing or improved recovery from condition such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease and arthritis after fasting.
Fasting is better done under the supervision of a trained professional for effective results, mainly a naturopathic physician.
The above, if well developed, can reduce so much pressure on the use of western medicine treatment and is more cost effective.
Based on the above, Rauxmac International Initiative as an NGO and a member, coalition of civil societies organization, seek support from and collaboration with government agencies and donor organization to take health care delivery services to the indigents in our society at the grass root, touching lives in every towns and villages, irrespective of socio-cultural, tribal and religious differentials.
As a charity organization, our interest is reaching out to the indigents who cannot afford to pay hospital bills, using donations from the rich donor agencies and corporate bodies, create jobs for those health workers roaming the street after so many years of graduation, updating them with the latest technology in medical practice.
There has been over time neglect in the health care delivery services in Nigeria through poor staffing, making few doctors attend to so many patients. Time pressure on physicians, hamper their ability to accurately assess presenting symptoms, especially when cultural or language barriers are present.
If NGO’s are not supported and empowered, what happens when there is abnormal spike in demand for urgent medical care and to manage a large scale emergency such as that posed by terrorist attacks and natural disaster?
Our mobile medical team comprises of qualified, certified and tested medical practitioners ranging from specialist doctors, pharmacist, nurses, laboratory technologist and non medical staff. We diagnose our patient using modern medical equipments and best international medical practice and also administer drugs at no cost to the patient. Minor and intermediate surgeries are performed and patient monitored for four days while Major surgeries and any critical issues are referred to the nearest government hospital for treatment. The team shall spend at least seven days in any locality visited and shall revisit if need be. Complimentary/alternative therapies shall be use when necessary with permission of the patient.
Our NGO’s volunteer health workers recruitment is open and any interested candidate should apply via a letter of interest, mailed to rauxmac2@gmail.com and we shall reply stating our terms and remuneration.