Former Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has decried over what he described as ‘poor state of health sector’ in the country.
Obi called for urgent redirection of national planning and investment towards health, education, and poverty alleviation by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The former governor of Anambra State led this out at an event organised by ANAP Doctors in North America and the University of Nigeria Alumni at Eko Hotel, Lagos State.
Obi added that true development should be measured by improvements in the Human Development Index rather than physical infrastructure.
Advertisement
READ MORE: Speak Up Against Bad Govt, Nigeria Is Collapsing – Peter Obi Charges Supporters
The former governor of Anambra State said that more than 70 per cent of the country’s primary healthcare centres are non-functional due to poor facilities and inadequate manpower.
He said: “The most critical measures of development are not physical infrastructure, such as road construction or buildings, but health, which is measured by the Human Development Index.
“This is why we say, ‘Health is wealth,’ along with education and lifting people out of poverty.
“Currently, Nigeria has only about 10% of the doctor-to-population ratio recommended by global standards.
“We have borrowed heavily to support our healthcare system, securing several billions of dollars from multilateral agencies. However, these investments have not resulted in significant improvement.
“Our budgeting and borrowed funds should be directed towards the critical needs of healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation.”
