Globalisation of Diseases: The Challenges of COVID-19 Pandemic and Public Health System in Nigeria

Abstract

Globalisation is a process that integrates the world socio-economic system through trade liberalization, the free movement of people, technologies and information. It has equally made the spread of infectious diseases much easier globally. In essence, infectious diseases such as COVID-19, are easily transmitted across the countries of the world through the network created by globalisation poses serious challenges to the world health system, particularly developing countries like Nigeria. Public health system in Nigeria is overwhelmed by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which further exposes the country to the adverse effects of globalisation such as dependence and unequal relationship between her and the developed countries. Although the challenging situation provides Nigeria an opportunity to overhaul her public health system, the current poor global economy has further worsened the problems. This paper analyses the situation, and recommends that Nigerian government should look inward to develop her Public health system in a more sustainable way, also, the economy should be repositioned to reduce the level of dependence, and resources should be redirected to adequately fund education and research to support the health sector. The analysis is based on the premises of dependency perspective