Obasanjo Laments Poor Healthcare Access, Urges Nigeria to Embrace Innovation

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has made a passionate plea for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s healthcare system, condemning the poor access to medical services that continues to plague millions of citizens. Speaking at the official launch of the Care365 Health Hub in Abuja, Obasanjo expressed his dismay that in a world of advanced technology and medical breakthroughs, many Nigerians still die from treatable ailments.

“It is no longer acceptable that in the age of artificial intelligence and space tourism, a Nigerian child should die of malaria because her mother could not afford to travel to the nearest health facility,” Obasanjo declared. He described the situation as not just a “failure of infrastructure” but also a “failure of empathy and leadership at all levels.”

Reflecting on the nation’s early dreams, Obasanjo stated that healthcare was never meant to be a luxury for the wealthy. He lamented the reality that millions of Nigerians still trek for miles to reach a health post, while many live in communities where the nearest doctor is hours away. These conditions, he argued, lead to preventable deaths and highlight the need for immediate, decisive action.

To address this critical challenge, the former president endorsed the new Care365 Health Hub, a platform that uses telemedicine, mobile clinics, and AI-driven diagnostics to deliver healthcare to underserved populations. He hailed the technology as a “social justice tool” and a “game changer,” capable of providing a transformative solution to one of Nigeria’s most persistent problems.

Obasanjo urged both the federal and state governments to fully integrate such innovative solutions into the nation’s primary healthcare system. He stressed that the true success of this initiative will be measured “not by apps downloaded but by lives saved, dignity restored, and the extent to which Nigerian life expectancy is improved.”

The former president’s comments come amid persistent challenges in the country’s health sector, including a high patient-to-doctor ratio of 1:5,000, inadequate funding, and a massive brain drain of medical professionals. Obasanjo’s call to action reinforces the urgent need for a more equitable and technologically advanced healthcare system that serves all citizens, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status.