Sadiq Daba, ace broadcaster and actor, says “Nigerian doctors are magicians, to be honest” but government needs to empower them and give them the enabling environment to prolong the lives of the public
Speaking on Saturday during a ‘Walk Against Cancer’, organised by some health activists, notably Project PinkBlue, to raise awareness on the dangers of cancer and how to stay cancer-free. Daba expressed gratitude to all Nigerians for coming to his aid and donating generously to enable him travel abroad for his cancer treatment.
Popularly known as Uncle Sadiq, the former presenter of AM Express on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), however, noted that the Nigerian health sector “is in a shambles”.
“My brother, if I tell you say I no like this cancer walk, na lie I lie o,” the ever cheerful ‘Uncle Sadiq’ told journalists in pidgin.
“This na one of the best things wey dem don do, because most people no know wetin dey happen. There are so many forms of cancer wey people no know. You get breast cancer, you get leukemia, you get prostate cancer.
“And it’s like whether our people wey suppose to dey in charge to correct this thing, them dey sleep ni o; I no know. But with this kind of thing wey dem do this morning, if somebody dey sleep, e go wake by force. Because it’s a killer something and you don’t know until the thing happen to you.
“Thank God for people wey come around (to help me). I will forever be grateful to Nigerians. I never ever know say people like me until now. Millions and millions of Nigerians were praying for me.
“I’m also grateful to the people wey put all these things together: Dr Joe Odumakin, Soni Irabor, and one or two other people. This is fantastic.“
He stressed that more needed to be done to improve the Nigerian health system and government needs to wake up.
“We should do more for ourselves. It’s not just to pay lip service. Our health service is in shambles. Our doctors are fantastic but our government should give them that enabling environment, empower them to do the best. Our doctors are magicians, to be honest,” he said.
“So this, for me, na to appeal, abeg if una get ears make una hear o. At least wetin this young man wey do this walk for cancer don do… it is just the beginning. We can do more.”
Daba was flown to the United Kingdom for cancer treatment in 2017 after his friends raised money for him through crowdfunding.