I veckans blogg beskriver Forum för Health Policys praktikant, Peace Ojaka, Nigerias hälso- och sjukvårdssystem och jämför med Sverige. Vad kan Sverige lära av Nigeria och vad kan Nigeria lära av Sverige?
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Nigeria Health Care
av Peace Ojeka, praktikant, Forum för Health Policy
Introduction to Nigeria
Nigeria is a country located in West Africa with a population of over 200 million people. Nigeria has several important industries such as:
• Oil and gas
• Telecommunication
• Manufacturing
• Banking and finance
• Agriculture
Other significant industries in Nigeria include construction, transportation, and real estate. According to data from the World Bank, Nigeria’s GDP in 2020 was approximately $475 billion. This puts Nigeria’s GDP in the top 20 in the world, but it is significantly smaller than Sweden’s GDP, which was approximately $590 billion in 2020. In Nigeria, the healthcare expenditure as a percentage of GDP was approximately 3.8% in 2020, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). This is significantly lower than the healthcare expenditure as a percentage of GDP in Sweden, which was approximately 9.8% in 2020, also according to the WHO.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the life expectancy in Nigeria in 2020 was approximately 57 years for men and 58 years for women. This is significantly lower than the life expectancy in Sweden, which was approximately 80 years for men and 84 years for women in 2020.
Health Care in Nigeria – Organization and financing
The healthcare structure in Nigeria is made up of a mix of government-funded and private sector providers, with a range of facilities including hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants in Nigeria in 2018 was approximately 1.3. This is significantly lower than the number of hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants in Sweden, which was approximately 3.9 in 2018.
Healthcare in Nigeria is financed through a mix of government-funded and private sector providers, with individuals paying for a significant portion of their healthcare costs out of pocket. This can be a challenge for many people in Nigeria, as the cost of healthcare can be prohibitively expensive for many.In addition to private sector providers, there are also a number of non-profit organizations that provide healthcare services in Nigeria, including international organizations such as Doctors Without Borders and local organizations such as the Nigeria Medical Association. These organizations may receive funding from a variety of sources including government grants, donations, and other forms of private sector support.
Public Health
There are a number of diseases that are common in Nigeria, some of which are more prevalent than others. Some of the main diseases in Nigeria include:
• Malaria
• HIV/AIDS
• Tuberculosis
• Childhood illnesses: Childhood illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and measles are also common in Nigeria, particularly in young children.
• Other diseases that are common in Nigeria include hepatitis, cholera, and yellow fever.
Despite being a large and economically important country, the healthcare system in Nigeria has faced significant challenges in recent years. One major challenge is a shortage of healthcare professionals. There are fewer doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers per capita in Nigeria compared to Sweden. This shortage is due in part to a lack of investment in the healthcare sector, as well as many healthcare professionals leave the country in search of better pay and working conditions elsewhere.
Another issue is a lack of infrastructure and resources. Many healthcare facilities in Nigeria are poorly equipped and do not have access to essential medical supplies and equipment. This can make it difficult for healthcare professionals to provide the necessary care to their patients. In addition, the cost of healthcare can be prohibitively expensive for many people in Nigeria. Many people cannot afford to pay for the healthcare they need, leading to a high rate of untreated or under-treated illnesses and diseases.
To address these challenges, the Nigerian government has implemented a number of initiatives in recent years. These include increasing investment in the healthcare sector, training more healthcare professionals, and working to improve the infrastructure and resources available to healthcare facilities.
What can Sweden learn from Nigeria’s Health Care?
While Nigeria’s healthcare system faces significant challenges, there are a number of things that Sweden, may be able to learn from the healthcare system in Nigeria. Some potential areas of learning could include:
- Strengthening primary care: Nigeria has a number of primary healthcare centers that are designed to provide basic healthcare services to the population, particularly in rural areas. These centers, which are often funded by the government, can serve as an important entry point for healthcare and can help to improve access to care for many people. Sweden and other countries may be able to learn from Nigeria’s approach to primary care and consider ways to strengthen primary care in their own healthcare systems.
- Promoting community health: Nigeria has a number of community health programs that aim to improve the health of the population through initiatives such as vaccination campaigns and disease prevention efforts. Sweden and other countries may be able to learn from Nigeria’s approach to community health and consider ways to promote health at the community level.
What can Nigeria learn from Sweden’s Health Care?
There are a number of things that Nigeria may be able to learn from the healthcare system in Sweden. Some potential areas of learning could include:
- Investing in healthcare: Sweden has a well-funded and well-developed healthcare system, with a high level of investment in healthcare from the government and private sector. Nigeria may be able to learn from Sweden’s approach to healthcare financing and consider ways to increase investment in the healthcare system.
- Promoting preventative care: Sweden has a strong focus on preventative care, with a range of initiatives aimed at promoting health and preventing diseases. Nigeria may be able to learn from Sweden’s approach to preventative care and consider ways to promote health and prevent diseases in its own healthcare system.
- Providing universal coverage: Sweden has a universal healthcare system, which means that all residents of the country have access to healthcare. Nigeria may be able to learn from Sweden’s approach to universal healthcare and consider ways to provide universal coverage for its own population.