The Evolution of Health Care Systems in Nigeria: Which Way Forward in the Twenty-First Century

Correspondence: Prof. A. Scott-Emuakpor Evolution is “change” and one of the most consistent phenomena of life is “change”. Change is to alter, to vary, to substitute, and to mutate. The complexity of life itself is brought about by change. Our individuality is fashioned by change. In the process of gamete formation, the genes within the germ cell undergo a complex rearrangement referred to as “meiosis”. During this event, the chromatids of homologous chromosomes participate in an almost ritualistic exchange of genetic materials called “crossing-over” or “recombination”. At the end of this process, paternal and maternal genes are recombined uniquely to produce an arrangement of genes never before encountered. This ultimate change produces a unique individual generation after generation. Whether you are an “evolutionist” or a “creationist”, change constitutes the main element of the process in which you believe. The entire theory of evolution glorifies “change”. Evolution derives its substance from the theory of “survival of the fittest”. The fittest are fittest because they have undergone change called “mutation”, which confers on them reproductive superiority in a constantly changing environment. Therefore, the “fittest” have a “selective advantage” to deal with a changed environment. The creationist should remember the story of creation very well. It consisted of a series of changes. As the narrative goes, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light: and there was light” (see Genesis 1:2-3). Light was the very first change God brought to bear in the process of His creation. The story of God's creation becomes even more fascinating as you read the rest of the book of Genesis. It shows how God changed the world and the beauty therein painstakingly. It also shows the changes that were introduced into our very existence when the first Humans disobeyed the instructions of God.