By Tordue Salem and Suzan Ironsi
Nigeria
loses over 28 billion United States dollars annually to medical
tourism, and risks losing more this year, as over 23 percent of pregnant
Nigerian women insist on having their children abroad, in spite of the
stern warning by the Ministry of Health that babies of pregnant
travellers to the United States and Latin America, risk contracting the
deadly Zika fever.
The Medical Tourism
Association research statistics, disclose that "23 percent of Nigeria's
population has access to a combined buying power in excess of US28
billion dollars, mostly made up of professional and middle-class
Nigerians whose desire to seek privileges such as better health care
services or simply dual citizenship options for their child/children is
on the rise", despite the warning.
As it implies,
Birth tourists are women who travel out for the singular purpose of
giving birth. Some circles crudely refer to some of these kids as
'anchor babies' because of their access to citizenship of other
'greener' countries under the jus soli.
Indications by the
centre for immigration studies in Washington estimates that as many as
36,000 birth tourists go to the United States every year and further
identifies that Nigerians represent a strong number of guests from
Sub-Saharan Africa.
The figures are not
unlikely to increase as statistics disclose that 23 percent of
Nigeria's population has access to a combined buying power in excess of
US28 billion dollars, mostly made up of professional and middle-class
Nigerians whose desire to seek privileges such as better health care
services or simply dual citizenship options for their child/children is
on the rise.
Though not a new
phenomenon among Nigerians, the trend has given rise to better planning
and even consultancies which guide women on costs and procedures.
For Wunmi Ewebiyi,
hers is a testimonial on one-child-birth service website where she
narrates her delight with the support received and reveals expenditures
of up to US 8,000 dollars for Caesarean Section birth. While, Naomi
Anyanwu tells to LEADERSHIP Weekend that, "I've had two children in
America. I spent roughly about US15,000 thousand dollars for my son and
less than US10,000 when I had my daughter two years later."
For recently wed
Mrs Chinonyerem Chimundiya, she expresses to LEADERSHIP Weekend that
having struggled with the Nigerian system, she and her husband hope to
offer a better opportunity for their children. "It seems Nigeria has
always been on rocky ground. Being able to have steady employment means
that we can afford to have our baby in America. It is unfortunate that
now I have to contend with this Zika virus, but I have planned and saved
for this. When I got married, my husband and I discussed this option of
having our child overseas and we both agreed to guaranteeing our kids
the option of a stable educational system, plus exposing them to unique
climes, and even snow!"
At this time in the
United states, though citing the risk of transmitting the virus through
blood donations remained "extremely" low, groups like the American Red
Cross have requested that blood donors who have travelled to Zika viral
outbreak areas at least 28 days before donating in the United States.
Similarly, the Pan American Health Organisation whilst investigating a
case of the virus being transmitted sexually, has said more evidence was
needed to confirm sexual contact as a means of Zika transmission after a
report in Texas.
However, despite
the ongoing International effort to investigate and understand how the
virus evolves, to protect vulnerable groups like pregnant women, there
are those who remain steadfast.
For the 29-year-old
consultant, who alongside her husband, earn a combined monthly income
of a little over 900,000 thousand naira and being six months pregnant,
she is set with her plans to travel to the United States, irrespective
of ongoing events. "I watch the news, and it's a risk that I will take
because I want the best opportunity for my child, and if we can provide
that by going overseas, then why not?" she queries.
It is a question
that an increasing number of middle-income families seem to ponder, and
possibly accounts for the growing number of Nigerian women who travel to
countries like the United States of America to give birth.
Dr Chris
Agboghoroma, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at the National
Hospital Abuja insists that Although, the WHO recently declared Zika a
Public Health Emergency of International Concern, it stated that there
was no justification for restrictions on travel or trade to prevent the
spread of Zika, encouraging instead personal measures to avoid mosquito
bites as essential. "Information on ZiKa virus is still evolving.
Reinforcing this,
Dr Ihekweazu urges that every woman that is planning to travel, that is
of child bearing age must consider fully whether she needs to go to
regions like South America at the Moment. "Women must take the normal
precautions against getting bitten buy mosquitoes, but over and above
what you would normally do; if you were using mosquitoes repellent
sporadically, you would have to then use it all the time. They must
inform themselves and educate themselves on the risks so that they can
take informed decisions."
Recall however,
that the Health Minister. Professor Isaac Oluwole, had earlier warned
pregnant Nigerian women of the health risks of travelling abroad to have
their babies, especially in places like Southern America, that is worst
hit by the Zika fever.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Your Comment is very important to us. Pls drop your comment after reading our post. it will help us to improve. Thank you