Misdiagnosis: Shame of a Nation

A lot is wrong with Nigeria as a country and Africa as a continent. How else can we explain the persistent issue of misdiagnosis in our medical sector? Admittedly, there are instances where incorrect assumptions about a condition occur due to atypical presentations, as seen with typhoid fever and malaria or pneumonia mimicking tuberculosis. However, just as a bull snake resembles a rattlesnake but lacks venom, misdiagnosis should not be a recurring theme.

On a different note, congratulations to Nigerians at home and abroad for the Super Eagles’ slow and steady performance in the ongoing AFCON. While we wish them success, there’s more to worry about than football, as the decay in Nigeria’s system has seeped into the football sector, evident just days before the tournament began.

On January 8, Nigeria played a pre-AFCON friendly match against Guinea, and Umar Sadiq, a striker, experienced a significant impact from two Guinean defenders. This incident led to the medical team recommending his substitution as a preventive measure. Despite Sadiq insisting it was a minor knock, the Nigerian medical team assessed him the next day, concluding that he had a minuscule injury that would sideline him for at least 15 days. Consequently, the reluctant striker was removed from the Super Eagles.

Unable to continue his journey with the national team, Sadiq returned to his club, Real Sociedad. Upon the club’s diagnosis and medical team assessment, he was deemed fit to play. Meanwhile, the national team insisted on his return for further assessment, prompting Sadiq to leave the Super Eagles camp for Spain. Within four days of his return, he played in a competitive match for Real Sociedad against Osasuna and has since remained fit.

Head Coach Jose Poseiro criticized the medical team, stating, “I received a report that he was injured and can’t recover in 15 days,” explaining the decision to drop Sadiq. The Super Eagles medical team erred in their prognosis and decision. In a functional system, heads would roll, and the medical team would face scrutiny. However, in Nigeria, where anything goes, accountability is often elusive.

This incident isn’t isolated to sports; it mirrors the prevalent issues in Nigerian hospitals. I lost a friend last year due to a wrong diagnosis, and I’ve witnessed cases where individuals were treated for the wrong ailment, leading to dire consequences. The misdiagnosis of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi with pneumonia, later revealed to be throat cancer, serves as a poignant example of the devastating impact of medical errors.

Umar Sadiq was fortunate to be misdiagnosed with a less severe ailment, unlike many families facing daily tragedies due to incorrect diagnoses. The Nigerian medical sector is an open sore, prompting those who can afford it to seek medical treatment abroad. Despite Nigerian doctors being highly sought after globally, infrastructural shortcomings, including inadequate and poorly maintained equipment, hinder their effectiveness.

Pediatric hematologist and oncologist consultant Prof. Aderemi Ajekigbe notes that doctors sometimes require specific machines for accurate diagnoses. The absence or unavailability of such equipment, coupled with financial constraints for patients, contributes to misdiagnoses. The Nigerian government must urgently intervene at all levels, providing necessary equipment and training for healthcare professionals. Until this happens, the shame of the nation persists!

Top of Form