The phenomenon of African leaders leaving their country to seek medical help from other countries appears to be on the rise, reports SABC News. This, the report says is a reflection of the failure to invest in better health care facilities in their own countries.
As for citizens of their countries, they can't access medical facilities in their own country and have no other means of leaving to get help from outside, the report says.
Africa has lost a number of heads of state with some dying in foreign countries and corruption and failure in investing in health care systems are reasons attributed to this situation. Only a few of the 54 African states have medical facilities that their leaders can use.
Some of the leaders who are seeking or received medical help from outside their countries are: Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe who often goes to Singapore or Malaysia for medical help; and Edgar Lungu, Michael Sata, Banda Ruphia, former and current Presidents of Zambia who have all have come to South Africa for medical attention. The report says Bakuli Muluzi of Malawi and opposition leaders from the DRC Moise Katumbi and the late Etienne Tshikeli have also sought medical help in South Africa. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is currently undergoing medical tests in London.
[link url="http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/38f9c4004ffccb6ca3a0ab2519165aae/African-leaders-continue-to-seek-medical-care-in-foreign-countries-20170702"]SABC News[/link]