At the heart of health concerns in Nigeria lies an alarming fact: the country’s life expectancy is among the lowest in the world. During his recent intervention as a guest speaker at the 6th Public Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in Awka on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, Mr. Obi highlighted this worrying observation.
Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Obi expressed dismay over Nigeria’s low ranking in terms of Human Development Index (HDI), despite 25 years of democratic governance. According to him, the most crucial criterion for measuring this HDI is health, in particular life expectancy.
He pointed out that the current life expectancy in Nigeria is around 65 years, while countries like India have an average of 70 years, Bangladesh 72 years, Egypt 71 years and the Philippines 70 years old. These comparisons highlight Nigeria’s alarming lag in public health.
In addition to criticizing federal health management, Mr. Obi called for a global overhaul of the health system. He stressed the dire need for a committed and compassionate government to overhaul the health sector and meet the needs of citizens.
To address this worrying situation, Mr. Obi called for major investments in key health areas as well as increased support for local drug manufacturers. These measures, according to him, are essential to improve access to health care and increase the life expectancy of the Nigerian population.
This realization raises crucial questions about the need for far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s health sector. Let us hope that Mr. Obi’s recommendations will be echoed and concrete steps will be taken to improve the health and well-being of Nigerians.