Draining the brain gain : the new Mauritian political strategy

6 juin 2013

6 juin 2013, 12:38

Commentaire(s)

12:38

Commentaire(s)

Par

Raj Jugernauth

Partager cet article

Draining the brain gain : the new Mauritian political strategy

lexpress.mu | Toute l'actualité de l'île Maurice en temps réel.

Some years ago, Dr Anba Soopramanien a UK consultant in spinal injury proposed to the ministry of Health the setting up of a special neurology unit to cater for the high number of stroke patients in Mauritius, but also for victims of brain and spinal trauma due to the rising number of accidents on the island.

He offered his services free of charge and proposed to train the necessary staff, only because he is of Mauritian origin. Because he could not admit the fact that people with acquired brain or spinal injuries survive in the UK, in France and in most developed countries, but not in Mauritius. We had here a clear cut case of the brain gain phenomenon which UNESCO has been encouraging and fostering over the years to counterbalance the brain drain phenomenon.

This brain and spinal neurosurgeon has worked at the Centre de Readaptation de Coubert (Paris), in the Spinal Injuries Unit in Stoke Mandeville, the London Spinal Injuries Unit (Stanmore), The Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre (Salisbury).

He worked with the International Movement of the Red Cross in Pakistan/Afghanistan and Romania. In 2009 he retired from the Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury and took a post at Glenside Hospital, where the focus was more on acquired brain injury.

When he proposed his help to the ministry of Health, those who had been asking for the setting of a neurosurgery unit since the 80’s took hope.

Alas, they had overlooked the fact that local politics and those jockeying for top position inside different ministries have a dirty culture of nipping in the bud people and projects which might steal the show from them. These people live in the constant fear of being overshadowed.

So the proposal of Dr Anba Soopramanien has been quickly shelved and many more Mauritians would die of brain or spinal injuries before a specialized unit which can save them is set up.

It should be noted that the present minister of Health, Lormus Bundhoo, was not in charge when Dr Anba Soopramanien made his proposals.

But it is his duty to have an overview of the health services and priorities of public health in Mauritius.

Would he ever realize that - the number two killer in the island - might soon be the number one cause of death in male Mauritians and that the country needs a neurosurgery or stroke unit which should be as competent as the Cardiac centre ?

The setting up of the Cardiac centre is in fact a case of brain gain, for the man who came forward to set up and head that centre, Dr Sunil Gunness, was in fact working in France, doing heart surgery and heart transplant. the setting up of this centre itself was part of an innovative policy in the public health sector in as far as this centre was placed under the management of a newly created trust fund for specialized medical care. That centre is now ISO quality certified.

Lormus Bundhoo, if ever he listens to his pseudo competent advisors, would not be ill advised if he goes for a stroke or a neurological centre managed by a trust fund. Such a centre is today a must for the country.