NDC Presidential candidate Peter Obi
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the poor state of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Nigeria, saying the country cannot achieve meaningful development while its healthcare system remains weak.
Obi reacted to a recent report which showed that 97 per cent of assessed Primary Healthcare Centres across 16 states failed to meet the national staffing standard.
According to him, the findings reflect a serious challenge facing Nigeria’s healthcare sector and can be extended to many parts of the country, where he said about 80 per cent of Primary Healthcare Centres are not functioning.
“The recent report that 97% of assessed Primary Healthcare Centres across 16 states failed to meet the national staffing standard is not merely a statistic; it can be extrapolated nationwide, where about 80% of PHCs are not functioning. It reflects a serious risk,” Obi said.
He stressed that health remains the foundation of national development and warned that no country can build a productive population without properly staffed Primary Healthcare Centres.
“Health is the primary measure of development in any nation and forms the foundation of healthcare. A country cannot build a healthy, productive population if its Primary Healthcare Centres lack the necessary staff to care for the people,” he stated.
Obi said the shortage of health workers has real consequences for ordinary Nigerians, especially pregnant women and children.
“Behind every understaffed PHC is a pregnant woman who might not receive timely care, and a child who could die from a preventable illness. That is why Nigeria is currently classified among the most challenging and poorest places to be born and to live,” he added.
The former Anambra State governor argued that healthcare should not be treated as a privilege for the rich but as a basic responsibility of government.
“Healthcare should not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy. It is a basic responsibility of government. Progress is not best measured by flyovers, new bus stops, or airports that are rarely used. Instead, we should measure it by the number of lives saved, the number of operational health centres, the availability of qualified health workers, and the quality of care provided to ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
Obi called on governments at all levels to prioritise investment in Primary Healthcare, recruit and retain health workers, and ensure that quality and affordable healthcare is available to every Nigerian.
“We cannot create a New Nigeria while allowing our people to die from issues that a functioning Primary Healthcare system should prevent. Our priorities must be clear: invest in our people, strengthen Primary Healthcare, recruit and retain essential health workers, and ensure every Nigerian, regardless of location or income, has access to quality, affordable healthcare.
“A New Nigeria is POssible.”
