Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba shouldn’t be new to health enthusiasts in Nigeria, particularly in Northern Nigeria where the health indices are more catastrophic and detrimental to the hoi polloi.
Dr Aminu Magashi is a medical expert, a researcher, a development mogul, and a quintessential writer. My motivation for writing about individuals has always been that; when experts and professionals particularly those with exceptional records in serving humanity are appreciated and their services recognized, it goes a long way in motivating them and reminding others that society will continue to applaud people dedicated to serving humanity.
I only came into contact with Dr Magashi via the media, particularly his exceptionally well-thought-out, carefully articulated and professionally written health interactive columns that have made some tremendous strides in engaging readers to understand issues around their health.
Dr Magashi is not only a medical expert by training and practice; he remains an ardent critic of his professional colleagues going the wrong way in the profession. Many readers may recall one of his health columns, “The Negative Attitude of Health Workers” where he lampooned some practitioners jeopardizing government work in the name of private practice.
He argued at the time that the continued deterioration of the health sector was in connection to the pursuit of greener pastures and better working conditions among health professionals and private practices which he said, has contributed to draining the sector to the detriment of the masses.
This is typically unusual among professionals of the same calling, for one to remain vociferous against the odds of his colleagues.
Dr. Magashi has not only defied the usual conspiracy of silence among professionals in the health sector but has also exposed their inept attitude, and disservice to the nation that has consistently become the norm.
He has spoken truth to power since I started reading and following him; and no matter whose ox is gored.
Another exceptional quality that has been and will continue to define his valuable contributions to the health sector in Nigeria is his dexterity in research. His research works have earned him some international accolades in the development world and have actively engaged the policy makers around the health sector.
His patriotism is evident; in that he remains in Nigeria to improve the cataclysmic system at a time when his colleagues are enjoying jumbo pay and a conducive working environment in other countries.
The so-called greener pasture did not attract him to abandon Nigeria, he remains committed to improving the system by actively engaging all stakeholders, particularly international donors and policymakers.
His love for research in the health sector and policymaker engagement gave birth to the health research committees in Sokoto and Bauchi states which hitherto did not exist before the Targeted State High Impact Project (TSHIP). The establishment of the committees has no doubt standardized research in the health sectors by compelling local and international researchers who want to explore the health sector to adhere to ethical standards by ensuring that privacy and confidentiality of sources are strictly adhered to and their impact choreographed to help the masses.
At a time when our country is starved of readers and researchers, the amiable Dr Magashi, a chevening scholar loyal only to his professional calling is among the “who is who” in the research world. From London to Geneva down to the US, Dr Magashi is a well-respected and appreciated researcher, and policy molder who has interfaced with impactful players with documented achievements in the system.
Dr Magashi is among the team of experts who made some remarkable impact in developing what is now known as Policy, Advocacy, Legislation, and Human Rights, a national strategic framework that has contributed to stemming the tide of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
The momentous journey of this wonderful scholar in getting active engagement of those that matters dates back to his school days when he was visibly active in students’ unionism though, professionally inclined. Determined to be where he is today and motivated by his believe that collaborative efforts in whatever capacity and for whatever reason have always been very relevant, Dr Magashi has succeeded in housing experts to fashion ways out of social problems bedeviling the well-being of the masses.
Haruna Mohammed Salisu is a freelance Journalist based in Bauchi
