Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour party, visited the Tungan Madaki Primary Healthcare Centre in Abuja as part of World Sick Week.
He highlighted the dire need for significant reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, emphasizing its critical role in societal advancement.
During his visit, Obi observed the deteriorating conditions in the health sector, stressing the urgency of revitalizing it. He pointed out that less than 10% of primary healthcare centers nationwide are operating effectively, with issues ranging from infrastructure decay to equipment shortages and understaffing.
In a statement, Obi expressed concern over the misallocation of resources in the healthcare sector, citing disparities in funding. He highlighted that while primary healthcare receives approximately N59 billion, over N70 billion is diverted towards non-essential expenses such as procuring vehicles and constructing car parks for National Assembly members.
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Obi underscored the urgency of addressing these misalignments, stating, “To address these misalignments, I have made a contribution of Two million Naira to improve the facility I visited which serves 32 villages. This is a way of underscoring the urgent need for improvements in the funding and resourcing of our healthcare system even at the most rudimentary and primary level.”
As part of his call to action, Obi urged the government to reassess its priorities and commit to critical areas, particularly healthcare reform. He emphasized the importance of building a healthy populace as the foundation for the new nation Nigeria envisions.
The donation made by Obi is expected to aid in improving the facilities and services at the Tungan Madaki Primary Healthcare Centre, benefiting the 32 villages it serves.