Nigerian’s public health systems are in a depressing state. Preventable diseases are killing a large number of women and children, people travel long distances to receive health care, and across the country patients sleep on hospital floors. Women, young girls and children are the worst affected by the poor health services.
This is particularly more true for those living in rural areas where the burden of disease is disproportionately high.
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Nigerian politicians see the country as a cemetery. They send their children to schools abroad; they go to Britain, Germany and India for medical check-up.
The federal government should increase the budget for health, strengthen existing health facilities and programmes and improve on the quality of the health insurance system.
Government at all levels should provide the enabling environment for health care practitioners to give their best and optimise their potential. Public hospitals need to be adequately provided with modern equipment.
Umar Abubakar Muhammad, Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri
