Yinka  Joladu, a civil servant has been suffering from End-Stage-Kidney failure.  Doctors managing her case have recommended further treatment abroad.  Yinka, a mother of  four, is considering travelling to India or United State of America (USA) for her surgery.  She was required to pay a whooping sum of N6 million for the life- saving surgery.

Since she never knew which hospital to visit, she made enquiries with some other patients from Nigeria who have travelled to India for similar cases.   Today, Yinka is alive and well courtesy of an Indian hospital. Yinka is one of such Nigerians contributing to the estimated $200 million, Nigeria loses to medical tourism annually, according to former Minister of Health, Prof Babatunde Oshotimehien.

Kate Johnson 33 was not lucky.  Kate was diagnosed of cancer of the lungs few years ago. Since then, her family knew no peace. They run from pillar to post to raise money for her treatment.

Unfortunately, the economic situation of   the country has not made it easier for them.  She was placed on radiotherapy in one of the teaching hospitals in the country, after one year of treatment, she could not continue because her family could no longer afford to pay the exorbitant cost of the treatment. She was forced to relocate to their hometown, apparently to wait for her death.

Steve, may be the most unfortunate as he was flown abroad for a complicated heart surgery. Few days after the successful surgery, Steve died on his flight back to Nigeria. Steve is one of the thousands who died due to complications arising from far distance travel after surgery. He is also one of those Nigerians who lost their lives for non availability of  the needed care.  Steve, would have been alive, if the country’s healthcare system is capable of taking care of such  life- saving surgery.

Reports have shown that serious medical conditions such as heart disease have been known to force many of these tourists abroad, while there is no serious reasons such as the fad to be delivered of their babies are also regularly recorded.

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