More prominent Nigerians may die in 2022 out of inaccurate diagnosis – Expert warns

A medical expert with years of experience in Epidemiology and Biostatistics practice, Everight Okpara on Thursday warned that Nigeria may lose more prominent people to wrong and inaccurate diagnoses in 2022 unless drastic measures are put in place to correct the anomaly.

Okpara identified wrong and inaccurate diagnoses as major causes of avoidable deaths of some notable personalities in the country.

He said ” it is unfortunate that many Nigerians who could afford any medical expenses; still exited when they could still have delivered so much to the fatherland due to this anomaly

Okpara made the assertions while fielding questions from journalists in Dimagu Autonomous Community, Ideato-South council area of Imo State.

He said the unbelievable level of capital flight in medical tourism following the lack of trust in the medical industry was another cause for worry.

He said being exposed to special areas of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the John Hopkin University, Maryland, the United States with other experiences in management and administration in Medicare delivery, he can only wear the regalia of the philosophy of sacredness of life and no life is worth losing.

He regretted how his loving grandmother died in anguish and pain as a result of a wrong diagnosis.

He said, ”Growing up as a little boy, I had a very devastating experience witnessing how my loving grandmother died in anguish and pain.

“As little as I was all I could remember was that the Pastor attributed my granny’s ill health to evil projection and evil arrow. That harrowing experience opened my eyes to listen and became very conscious of the happenings around me.

” It was later I found out that my grandmother’s death was caused by a kidney-related problem (renal failure). So, losing my grandmother as a result of poor and wrong diagnosis spurred me into going into investigative medicine to bridge this gap and to help save others from avoidable pains and deaths.”