Idowu Abdullahi
Experts have called on the government at all levels to prioritise sustained investments in healthcare delivery, warning that chronic underfunding continues to derail Nigeria’s progress towards universal health coverage.
According to them, the worsening state of primary and tertiary facilities reflects long-standing neglect that has left millions of citizens vulnerable to preventable illnesses.
They noted that inadequate budgetary allocation, weak infrastructure, and a persistent brain drain have made it challenging for the system to meet growing population needs.
Speaking at the 2nd Annual Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Memorial Lecture held on Wednesday at the Ayinke House, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, a Consultant Obstetric-Gynecologist, Dr. Lateef Akinola, said it was unacceptable that the country still struggles to provide quality healthcare despite its financial potential.
The reproductive health expert lamented that Nigeria currently allocates about five per cent of its GDP to health instead of the recommended 15 per cent.
This, he said, was contributing to neglect of doctors’ welfare in the country, adding that such neglect was what led to the ongoing strike by resident doctors.
He urged the government to prioritise healthcare investments across the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, especially in human resources.
“Improving remuneration, housing, and work conditions would help reduce the mass migration of medical professionals,” he said.
Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Ayinke House, Dr. Tawakalitu Ottun, who went down memory lane, explained that Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony donated the original Ayinke House building to the then General Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.
According to her, the hospital once operated with limited space, just two theatres and a small chalet for maternal care, despite being a major referral centre.
She noted that Ayinke House has since expanded from 70 beds to 170, now equipped with ICUs, human support units, upgraded laboratories, ultrasound units, and a large pool of consultants after renovations from 2010 to 2019
Also speaking, a representative of the Bank-Anthony family, Funmi Bank-Anthony, reiterated the family’s commitment to sustaining Sir Mobolaji’s legacy.
She stated that the estate intends to become more involved in improving Ayinke House, noting that the late philanthropist held a deep passion for maternal health.
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