Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, has highlighted that a significant number of households in Nigeria currently rely on prayers rather than acquiring medications to address their health issues.
During the 6th public lecture organized by the Board of Fellows, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (BOF-PSN), held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, expressed his observation that a majority of households in Nigeria now turn to prayers instead of obtaining medications when they fall ill.
In his address on the theme of ‘Access to Quality Medicine in an Unstable Environment’ at the 6th public lecture of the Board of Fellows, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (BOF-PSN), held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Peter Obi expressed his concern over the state of the nation’s healthcare sector. He lamented the departure of many pharmaceutical companies from the country, leading to exorbitant prices of drugs for the less privileged.
Consequently, he noted that the high cost of medications is a significant factor driving households to rely on prayers as an alternative. Additionally, Obi criticized the government for granting licenses for drug importation instead of fostering partnerships with local pharmaceutical firms to produce high-quality drugs, as this approach primarily generates revenue from importers.
“I visited a primary health centre in an outskirt of Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and, discovered that there were 50 pregnant women in the hospital, and, there was just one medical staff attending to them.
“There are about 24,000 primary health centres in the country, but how many of them are functional?
“The allocation to health as contained in the current national budget is nothing to write home about. There is need to prioritise issues concerning health such that in addition to providing health insurance to all the citizens, there should be a deliberate policy by government to ensure local production of drugs and medicines.
“We need to dismantle the type of leadership we have in the country, and, everyone must show commitment to install a government that will provide good governance, otherwise, we can’t move forward.
“The prices of drugs today are so high that in most homes, the only good medicine they know is prayers. We can not continue like this,” he added.
Dr. Joel E. B. Adagadzu, the chairman of BOF-PSN, commended Peter Obi for his dedication and sacrifices in leading the movement for a better Nigeria.
