Nigerian Health Care, Music, and Boko Haram

Boko Haram Still Active

Despite announcements from the Nigerian military that Boko Haram has been defeated, or as President Buhari said once, “technically defeated,” the group is still causing havoc in northern Nigeria.

Many of the Chibok girls kidnapped three years ago are still missing and presumed held by Boko Haram.

Last week the terrorists recaptured Gudumbali, a northern town that they had held earlier and lost to the military, at least according to one source.

Contrasting Story

A somewhat different version comes from Sahara Reporters who say that the army defeated the attempt by Boko Haram to take back the town.

“The statement by the army. . . noted that “the encounter took place when the insurgents attacked the community, set some buildings ablaze and quickly withdrew from the community.”

Where is the truth? How does one tell?

Unhappiness Among Nigeria Troops

According to the article in France24.com “. . there are indications of disquiet in the ranks [of the Nigerian troops], mirroring the situation four years ago when Boko Haram ran rampant across the northeast.”

Yan St-Pierre is the head of the Modern Security Consulting Group. He was quoted in the article, saying this attack was “another demonstration of [the opponent’s] increasing capabilities and level of strength.”

He suggests that the government should acknowledge their tactics are not meeting success. He did not say how they should change tactics. But he did say the military should address the issue of low morale.

That seems important if they are to have any hope of success against a determined foe! President Buhari’s re-election campaign, already underway for the 2019 vote, will certainly be influenced by what is happening with Boko Haram.

Healthcare and More in Nigeria – Two Experts 

My husband’s cousin Isaiah has two daughters who are major players in Nigerian health care work. The older, Cheluchi, who has her PhD in Law, is Managing Partner at Health Ethics and Law Consulting. According to her LinkedIn profile, “The firm provides ‘cutting edge advisory on a wide range of legal, regulatory and policy issues in the life sciences, health, gender, social protection, inclusion, and development sectors.'”  

A few days ago she posted a note about a new book in which she has a chapter. She said, “Concern for patient safety and medical error is one of the reasons underlying our high medical tourism rates.” She is referring to how often Nigerians with access to the funds leave Nigeria for their medical needs.

In the last year Nigeria’s President Buhari spent several weeks in London for medical issues. Cheluchi’s father, Isaiah, went to India for surgery.

She says, “In my most recent essay, a book chapter, titled Patient Safety in Nigeria: An Emergent Concept, published in a ground-breaking book out from Routledge UK which examines patient safety globally, I explore some of the recent policy, law and strategy that suggest that patient safety is beginning to get some much-needed attention in Nigeria, and make suggestions for getting us further than we currently are.”

That’s great news! I’d love to read her chapter about the recent changes. I’m hoping at least an excerpt may be available for lay readers.

She included a link to the book, but unless you’re a medical professional interested in Nigeria’s health care, you probably wouldn’t want to pay the $100+ for it.

The link is https://www.routledge.com/…/Tingle-O-N…/p/book/9781138052789.

Younger Sister Also a Consultant

Her sister Akaoma’s LinkedIn profile says she is “an international expert in social, public health, community development, policy development and advocacy, organizational capacity development . . . within the social, public health and development sector.”

Her firm is Affinity Consulting, which provides technical support to many clients, “including international development agencies, profit, non-profit and civil society.” 

Akaoma was a help to me in Nanka last year when I couldn’t get internet access in our house. She asked me to bring my computer to her parents’ house 50 yards away. On the upstairs balcony we could get online!

Music Festival in South Africa

Our son Sam is in South Africa now. He was a panelist at a music festival called Moshito. “Let Your Music Speak: Demo Presentations Powered by MTV Base and BETMusicians,” was his first panel. It provided an opportunity for “producers and composers . . . to present their musical works to a panel of music publishers, record labels, and A&R and advertising agents.”

He said they watched 30 musicians and chose a winner! I’m waiting for news about who that was!

The other panel was on the Economic Value of African Music. “From Trace to MTV, from SXSW, to WOMEX to Ibiza and Los Angeles, African artists are standing on their own amongst the world’s best. [Yet]. . . the economic value of African music is yet to be determined.”

Sam’s company is Trace,  popular in Francophone Africa for years and expanding in Anglophone Africa, with Trace Nigeria and Sam leading the effort.

I remember meeting recently returned Peace Corps volunteers at a Connecticut event four years ago, and mentioning that my son was with TraceTV. They knew and loved Trace from their Peace Corps time in French West African countries.

Is African music on your listening list?