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Improved healthcare service for a better Nigeria
Healthcare in Nigeria has become a critical issue that we can no longer ignore. The system is crumbling under the weight of inefficiencies, and the situation has left many Nigerians at the mercy of high costs, poor services, and a lack of adequate medical infrastructure. Every day, lives are lost not because of the severity of illnesses, but because of a system that fails to provide basic care at an affordable rate. The cost of healthcare has skyrocketed, and for an average Nigerian, it has become almost impossible to access even the most essential medical services. The naira continues to lose value, and the burden of this economic downturn is painfully visible in the healthcare sector. It is not uncommon to see families struggling to scrape together enough money to afford a doctor’s consultation or to buy basic medication. For many, illness is not just a health issue; it is a financial catastrophe, one that can drive families into poverty.
Yet, the high cost of healthcare is only one part of the problem. Walking into a hospital, whether public or private, too often reveals a picture of chaos and unprofessionalism. The behavior of nurses and healthcare workers has become a source of immense frustration for patients. Harsh attitudes, neglect, and a lack of empathy are rampant in our hospitals. These are the very people we trust with our lives, yet the care they provide leaves much to be desired. Patients are frequently treated with disdain, and this poor treatment discourages many from seeking medical help until it is too late. We cannot afford to have healthcare workers who treat patients as though they are a burden, especially in a country where access to healthcare is already so limited.
Compounding this issue is the sheer lack of equipment and modern technology in many hospitals. Even in facilities where advanced medical equipment is available, it is often left unused or, worse, used improperly due to inadequate training. This inefficiency reflects a deeper problem—our healthcare system is ill-prepared to handle the medical needs of a growing population. Medical practitioners are not receiving the training they need to operate advanced tools and provide the kind of care that meets global standards. As a result, patients suffer, not because we lack the tools, but because the system is not structured to use them effectively.
This is a wake-up call. We can no longer sit back and blame the government or corruption for these issues. Yes, those are factors, but we must realize that change starts with us. Healthcare professionals need to hold themselves to a higher standard. Nurses and doctors must remember that they are in a position of trust, and they should treat every patient with respect, compassion, and care. Hospitals must invest in the training and development of their staff to ensure that equipment is used properly, and patients receive the treatment they deserve. And as citizens, we must demand better. We must stop accepting substandard care as the norm. The system will not improve until we collectively take responsibility for it.
Healthcare is a basic right, and it is time we treated it as such. If we continue on this path, where healthcare costs are too high, where professionals are ill-equipped to do their jobs, and where hospitals are failing to provide even the most basic of services, the health crisis in Nigeria will only worsen. It is not enough to just highlight these issues; we must act. This is a call to every Nigerian—to the doctors, the nurses, the government officials, and to ordinary citizens. We must wake up. We must take responsibility for our healthcare system, for our lives, and for our country. The time to act is now.
Eugene Nanven Writes from Gwagwalada Abuja FCT Nigeria
