Redefining Health by Standing Out | Osahon Enabulele | TEDxUniversityOfBenin

Key Concepts

• Fundamental Rights: Right to life, right to health, access to quality healthcare.
• Global Health Challenges: Wars, conflicts, emerging/reemerging diseases (COVID-19), antimicrobial resistance, climate change.
• Health Disparities: Significant differences in health outcomes and access to care, particularly pronounced in Africa.
• "JAPA" Syndrome: Brain drain of healthcare professionals from Nigeria.
• Catastrophic Health Expenditures: Individuals spending a significant portion of their income on healthcare.
• Standing Out: Achieving distinction, performing distinctively, achieving uncommon and extraordinary feats.
• Self-Awareness Creation: Understanding one's identity, purpose, and representation.
• Value Addition: Contributing tangible benefits to a system or organization.
• Leadership Journey: Progressing through leadership roles to effect systemic change.
• Courage and Determination: Essential traits for overcoming barriers and pursuing dreams.
• Character: Integrity, discipline, honesty, and consistency in actions.
• Legacy: Contributing to the betterment of systems and society beyond personal gain.
• Learn, Unlearn, Relearn: Continuous adaptation and growth in the 21st century.

Summary

The speaker begins by emphasizing the fundamental human rights to life and health, as enshrined in the World Health Organization (WHO) constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These rights, however, are currently under severe threat globally due to a confluence of challenges including ongoing wars, emerging diseases (like COVID-19), antimicrobial resistance, and climate change. These issues have led to worsening health indices worldwide.

Global Health Disparities and the African Context

The speaker highlights the staggering global health disparities, noting that these are particularly acute in Africa. As an African from Nigeria, the speaker points out that Africa bears over 25% of the global disease burden but possesses less than 3% of the global health workforce. This situation is exacerbated by the "JAPA" syndrome, a phenomenon of skilled professionals leaving Nigeria. In Nigeria, access to quality healthcare remains dire, with many individuals facing "catastrophic health expenditures" due to out-of-pocket payments for medical needs. The speaker criticizes governments for often paying mere lip service to the health rights of their citizens.

The Journey of "Standing Out"

The speaker then pivots to their personal journey over the past three decades, characterized by a commitment to confronting these challenges and advocating for change. This journey has been driven by the concept of "standing out," which is defined not by titles or positions, but by achieving distinction and performing extraordinarily. The speaker stresses that one can stand out from anywhere in the world, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness creation – understanding who you are and what you represent – as a prerequisite for setting a vision and mission.

Leadership and Value Addition

To effect systemic change, the speaker recognized the necessity of occupying leadership positions. Their leadership journey began at the University of Benin Medical Association, followed by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) at the state and national levels. Notably, the speaker was instrumental in initiating the construction of the doctors' house in Edo State. At the national level, they became the youngest ever president of the Nigerian Medical Association in 2012, a feat achieved by bringing "value additions" to the system.

International Impact and Overcoming Barriers

The speaker's ambition extended to the international arena, driven by the observation that there were few Black individuals in influential international meetings, hindering the ability to influence change. This led to a sustained effort to gain a presence in international forums. The speaker recounts facing significant barriers and failing multiple times (four attempts) to become president of the World Medical Association. However, through courage, determination, and a spirit of never giving up, they eventually succeeded, placing Nigeria on the global medical map.

Requirements for Standing Out

The speaker outlines key requirements for standing out:

• Purpose and Passion: A clear understanding of one's driving forces.
• Strategic Objectives: Defined mission and vision.
• Resource Mobilization: Ability to gather financial and other resources.
• Dynamic Self-Appraisal: Continuous evaluation of one's journey.
• Character: Integrity, discipline, honesty, and consistency in actions.

Commitment to Legacy and Systemic Change

The speaker emphasizes that standing out is not about personal gain but about committing to excellence, hard work, dreams, and the upliftment of one's system and society. The ultimate goal is to build legacies. This commitment led to the establishment of the Dr. Abule Foundation. Despite opportunities to remain in international organizations, the speaker chose to return to Nigeria to continue their work there.

Conclusion and Call to Action

The speaker concludes by reiterating that their journey has been one of commitment to strengthening healthcare systems globally, recognizing that the right to life is inextricably linked to the right to quality healthcare. They offer two powerful closing statements:

• A quote from Aventla: "The illiterates of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read or write, but those who refuse to learn, unlearn, and relearn."
• The speaker's own words: "If you want to stand out, you must leave your comfort zone and commit yourself to excellence and legacies because the opportunity for you to make impact and impact lives can never be recovered once lost."

The final call to action is to commit to legacies, values, and the upliftment of humanity, fostering progress and the continuous existence of humankind.