Africa's Emergency Room
Former Zambian leader Frederick Chiluba flew to South Africa on Friday for treatment of a cardiac problem.
There has been a huge fuss in Zambia, where I am right now, about Chiluba's right to leave the country. The former prez has been charged with stealing $488 000 in public funds while in office in the 1990s. The current government initially blocked him from leaving Zambia for fear he might not return, before relenting.
But the fuss obscures an even bigger issue: the fact that Chiluba feels he needs to visit South Africa for his treatment.
There's no doubt that South African medical facilities are the best on the continent. Many expats and a steady stream of African leaders head south whenever they need specialized procedures.
The fact that so many leaders and former leaders choose to avoid the health systems they run or once ran says as much as any statistic about the state of health in Africa. If only ordinary Africans had the same chance at world-class medical care as well.
Simon Robinson/Lusaka
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Reader's Comments
African countries and Brazil need more help to improve their health systems.
But the world needs to wake up! Please, wake up world!
Marcio Paoliello
Brazil
posted by: Marcio Paoliello | December 5, 2006
The development of high tech expensive medicine in African countries would help but a few in each country. The development of basic services spread widely will help more to thrive in the, at times, harsh environment. That the wealthy and powerful travel for health care is common even in the developed world.
posted by: Andrew Lovegrove | December 16, 2006
While it is understandable that health care should be improved in these countries, they have the right to choose another hospital and go to this one instead. After all, would you go to your local hospital when you have the option of going to John Hopkins or the Pasteur Institute?
posted by: Ben Jiang | December 18, 2006
Thats a good idea for a TV Show, catching the world leaders that seek health care (with others money), outside their own countries.
Joao Goncalves
Portugal
posted by: Joao Goncalves | December 19, 2006
The comments to this entry are closed.