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 The Health Crisis Facing Nigerian Immigrants Abroad

The global migration of Nigerians in search of better opportunities, including healthcare, has become a significant trend in recent years. Many Nigerians, disillusioned by the state of healthcare in Nigeria, opt to seek medical treatment abroad, believing that foreign healthcare systems will offer superior services. However, an increasing number of Nigerian immigrants are finding that the reality abroad is far from their expectations. Instead of receiving the promised quality of care, they often face substantial challenges, including long waiting times for appointments, limited access to specialized treatments, and even outright neglect. This health crisis among Nigerian immigrants highlights the urgent need for both the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international human rights bodies to address the systemic issues at play.

Health is a fundamental human right recognized by various international human rights instruments, including the Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO). The right to health encompasses the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of healthcare services. It is a non-discriminatory right that applies to all individuals, regardless of their nationality or immigration status. However, in practice, the fulfillment of this right often falls short for non-citizen immigrants in many countries, including Nigerians living abroad.

Dr. Richard Okoye, a prominent Nigerian medical doctor and founder of the Doctors Savealife Foundation, has brought to light the untold challenges that Nigerian immigrants face in accessing healthcare abroad. In a live broadcast titled "Nigerians Abroad in Health Crisis: Know This Before You Japa!" Dr. Okoye highlighted the severe difficulties Nigerians encounter in securing timely medical appointments and treatments in countries like the United Kingdom.

One of the most alarming issues is the extended waiting period for medical appointments. In countries where healthcare systems are overstretched, immigrants often find themselves at the bottom of the priority list. This delay can have dire consequences, particularly for conditions that require urgent attention, such as fibroids, which disproportionately affect African women. Dr. Okoye emphasized that fibroid surgery, a procedure that can be performed effectively in Nigeria, often becomes a prolonged and expensive ordeal for those seeking treatment abroad.

The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that some health conditions, like fibroids, are more prevalent among African populations and may not be given the same level of priority in predominantly white countries. This can lead to suboptimal care and adverse health outcomes for Nigerian immigrants. The neglect of these immigrants' health needs raises critical questions about the responsibilities of host nations to respect, protect, and fulfill the right to health for all residents, including non-citizens.

The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a mandate to protect the interests of Nigerian citizens abroad, including their health and well-being. However, the growing health crisis among Nigerian immigrants suggests that more needs to be done to safeguard these rights. The Ministry must engage in active diplomacy to ensure that Nigerian immigrants receive equitable healthcare in their host countries. This could involve negotiating bilateral agreements that guarantee access to healthcare services for Nigerians or providing direct support through consular services.

Moreover, the Ministry should collaborate with organizations like the Doctors Savealife Foundation to raise awareness about the health challenges Nigerians face abroad. These partnerships could help to educate potential immigrants about the realities of healthcare in different countries and promote the benefits of seeking treatment within Nigeria, where appropriate.

While addressing the challenges Nigerians face abroad is crucial, it is equally important to strengthen Nigeria's healthcare system to reduce the need for medical migration in the first place. By improving the quality, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare services within Nigeria, the government can instill confidence in its citizens and reduce the dependency on foreign healthcare systems. The vision of Doctors Savealife Foundation to improve Nigeria's life expectancy to 70 years by 2025 is an ambitious yet attainable goal if supported by robust healthcare policies and investments in medical infrastructure.

The health crisis facing Nigerian immigrants abroad is an urgent issue that requires immediate attention from both the Nigerian government and international human rights bodies. Ensuring the right to health for all, regardless of immigration status, is not only a legal obligation but also a moral imperative. The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs must take a proactive role in protecting its citizens abroad, while also working to enhance the healthcare system at home. Only by addressing these challenges on multiple fronts can the well-being of Nigerian immigrants be secured, and the broader health crisis be mitigated. 

Daniel Okonkwo for Profile International Human Rights Advocate  

[https://profileshumanrights.blogspot.com/2024/08/health-crisis-facing-nigerian_26.html](https://profileshumanrights.blogspot.com/2024/08/health-crisis-facing-nigerian_26.html)