Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday decried the poor state of healthcare in Nigeria, lamenting that millions of citizens still trek long distances to access medical services.
He expressed concern that many Nigerians continue to die from preventable conditions such as malaria.
Speaking at the unveiling of the Care365 Health Hub in Abuja, chaired by former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), Obasanjo described the situation as a failure of leadership and empathy.
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“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 couldn’t afford to travel to the nearest health facility,” he said.
“These are not just failures of infrastructure; they are failures of empathy and leadership at all levels.”
The Care365 Health Hub, an innovation conceived in the United States and now launched in Nigeria, features a smart monitoring kiosk capable of checking vital signs such as blood pressure, blood sugar, BMI, and oxygen levels.
Obasanjo emphasised that the technology would bring affordable healthcare closer to rural communities.
“This is not a favour to the poor. It is our responsibility as leaders, policymakers, and community leaders,” he stressed, urging federal and state governments to integrate the innovation into primary healthcare and emergency systems.
General Abubakar, who chaired the occasion, echoed the need for sustainable healthcare solutions.
“Launching this is not the end of the problem; it’s the beginning.
“It needs support from all of us to deliver healthcare in this country,” he noted.
Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Pate, also praised the initiative, calling it “a practical, innovative solution” capable of creating jobs while ensuring access to quality healthcare for Nigerians.
