Africa: Privatization of health and "body attachment"
-----------------------------------------------------
With the creeping spate of privatization and commercialization
of health fostered on African countries by the World Bank and
related multi-lateral institutions, come a growing but harrowing
phenomenon that is not unknown even in the United States of
America. The phenomenon in discussion is called "body attach-
ment".
"Body attachment" refers to the unsavory situation in which a
patient or immediate family member, e.g., new born baby of a re-
cently delivered mother, is held in custody in hospital or even
jail as lien for unpaid hospital bill. "Body attachment" is a
flagrant abuse of human rights that should never happen. But it
does.
In Africa, the salaried middle class and vulnerable populations,
made up of the aged, women and children are worst affected. In
the US, the uninsured and under-insured are most affected.
The story below vividly illustrates the phenomenon of "body at-
tachment" in Ghana. Cases of "body attachments" have been re-
ported also from Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda in recent times.
Should "body attachment" be condoned or legislated against in
African countries? Comments are welcome.
Ghana: Korle-Bu detains 23 nursing mothers
http://www.datelinehealth-africa.net/betav1.0/news/detailnews.asp?news_id=11963
[Note: If the link fails to work directly for you, it may be
broken. In that event, copy, repair and paste the entire URL
into your browser address line and press 'Go' or "ENTER". That
should work!]
A. Odutola
mailto:chpss_abo2@yahoo.com