“I will improve healthcare facilities in Umuaka.” Dr Kelechi Obi.
5 min read
An Umuele Amazano born young medical doctor and social worker, Dr Onyeoma Kelechi Nathalie Obi has indicated her interest to improve the standard of healthcare facilities in Umuaka if given the opportunity. The medical doctor disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Umuaka Times following an official visit the newspaper paid to her father rtd Gen. ECN Obi during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. From the observations of Umuaka Times, Dr Onyeoma Kelechi Nathalie Obi remains one of the brightest young personalities Umuaka community will always boast of.
Excerpts:
May we know your name and where you came from?
I’m Dr Onyeoma Kelechi Nathalie Obi. I am from Umuele Amazano in Njaba LGA.
Give us the details of your academics sojourn?
For my high school education, I attended Laureate International School, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania (IGCSE) following which, I returned to Nigeria to take the WASSCE, NECO and Senior Secondary School Certificate at Pace Setters College, Abuja.
I then gained admission into the prestigious Afe Babalola University where I graduated with an MBBS: Bachelor of Medicine; and Bachelor of Surgery (2023).
Please at what age did you graduate?
I graduated at the age of 22 years.
Waooo! Possibly being one of the youngest doctors around?
(Smiles), yes.
Tell us some of the events that shaped your academic life while in school.
During my time in the university, I was awarded Afe Babalola Annual Award for Academic Excellence for first class CGPA,( 2016). Three times Most Creative Student Award, Afe Babalola University Medical Students’ Association (AMSA), 2021, 2022 and 2023 for my works as an artist.
Are you an artist?
Yes. I’m also a professionally trained makeup artist.
This is really getting interesting. Please tell us more.
I served as Director, Afe Babalola University Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) Mental Health Program, 2021/2022. I also served as the Assistant Liaison Officer, Nigerian Medical Students’ Association (NIMSA) Mental Health Advocacy AMSA Chapter, 2021/2022.
You sound more like a social worker attached with an NGO. Did you ever have an opportunity to work with an NGO?
Yes. During this time I also worked as a counselor in an NGO; Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative. I’m very passionate about mental health advocacy as health itself is not just the physical.
Is there any other advocacy group etc you had a stint with?
I am also an alumnus of the United Nations Millennium Fellowship program (class of 2022) where I worked to promote the UN Sustainable Development Goals 6 by promoting menstrual health hygiene and sanitation among up to 300 female school teens in Ado Ekiti in Ekiti State.
You so far have an enriching experience as a health worker. How long have you been working as a medical doctor?
I ve been working for about a year now.
Ok let us look at the health system in Nigeria a little. Can you tell us why Nigerians find it very hard to access medical checkups?
There are many reasons many Nigerians find it challenging to access medical checkups.
Please let us look at some of them.
Factors like limited healthcare infrastructure, financial constraints and additionally, the uneven distribution of medical facilities, especially in rural areas.
Uneven distribution of medical facilities? Let us talk more on this please.
It is a serious issue. This makes it extremely difficult for many people to access timely medical checkups. We also lack man power as of now; Nigeria has about 1 doctor per 4000 people, which is below the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of 1 doctor per 600 people. So you see, these are the issues.
Can you recall any other factor?
Also, a lack of awareness about preventive healthcare measures, cultural and religious beliefs can influence our healthcare-seeking behavior in Nigeria.
From your experience so far, what can be done to improve medical institutions and practice in Nigeria?
For me personally, I want to someday improve healthcare in umuaka, that’s my home.
Why Umuaka?
I’ve lost loved ones to illnesses that shouldn’t have taken them. I want better health system for my people. But generally speaking, it will involve addressing various challenges from the level of the government, community and even us as individuals in some ways like, investing more in healthcare infrastructures: I believe funding for healthcare facilities is needed especially in rural areas, to improve infrastructure, equipment, and overall healthcare delivery.
What about other areas?
One cannot give what one doesn’t have; we need to Invest in medical education, and incentives to retain qualified doctors. “My people suffer for lack of knowledge,” we need to promote health awareness and education programs to empower our communities with knowledge about preventive healthcare measures. Prevention is better than cure they say.
What about health insurance? Is that also necessary?
There is something we call “Out-of-pocket pay,” simply means the expenses that people pay for medical services directly from their own funds, without relying on insurance or third-party coverage. This is what most Nigerians do and this is also why a lot of people do not seek medical care because they simply can’t afford “do that test” or “buy that drug”. There is need to expand health insurance coverage to make healthcare more affordable for a larger segment of the population.
Many of your colleagues are leaving the country in search of greener pasture. Do you intend to join them?
The grass will always be greener where you water it. We call it “Brain drain” but let me not get into it (laughs) I’m still here (general laughter).
Considering what you are today, who and who will you extend your vote of thanks to?
I’ll like to thank God for everything first. I’ll like to thank my parents for all their support, they say count your blessings and name them one by one. My mom and dad are 1 and 2. I am forever grateful to them. My brothers, Chinemerem and Arinze for always rooting for me. In a special way, I want to thank a guardian Angel, my grandmother Ezinne Philomena Nnaji. She was my biggest cheerleader, she had always prayed to see me become a doctor but I know she’s proud I got here.
Other people?
I would thank my aunties Chief Mrs Caro Iwuala (Adakaibeya) and Mrs Grace Nnaji (My Grace of God), my little sister Febechi for their love and support and my friends who made medical school a little easier, Chiamaka, Folake, Naomi, Treasure, Wumisi, Olamide (just to mention a few names). Finally, I would like to thank myself, for believing in me.
You did not thank us. We also believed in you.
(General laughter).
Before we end the interview, do you have an answer on why cancer is successfully entering many homes today?
I would say times are changing. We are becoming more westernized in a good and bad way, the good being that I think these illnesses were here but our ancestors just didn’t call it cancer and didn’t treat it as such but now we have more facilities to make that diagnosis so it might seem «new or recent » the bad being that even though diet isn’t the only risk factor for these things, western diet is also a risk for these things.
Umuaka Times thanks you and wishes you success.
I also thank you as well for your time.
