In a campaign tagged #Vote4HealthNaija, Nigerians have been urged to vote to move health to the forefront of Nigeria’s political agenda come 2019.

According to Nigeria Health Watch, propagators of the campaign, it is time to turn our focus as Nigerians to holding our leaders accountable to improve our health sector, ahead of the 2019 elections. It is time to #Vote4HealthNaija.

It also called for Nigerians to see Universal Health Coverage as a right! “Economic progress, a fitting educational system, road infrastructure, and a reduction in the country’s unemployment rate, are all important. But focusing on them and ignoring healthcare is counterproductive as they are closely linked.”

“A healthy population is more economically productive; and children who are immunised, well fed and receive good basic healthcare perform better at school. If a community has access to good roads, but experiences a disease outbreak that kills 80 per cent of the residents, who will use the roads?”

“In a recent Nigeria Health Watch breakfast dialogue with stakeholders and fellow commissioners, Dr. Jide Idris, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, asked, “What is the point in building roads and bridges when the people to use them are dying?” Every Nigerian should have this question at the back of their minds as the momentum builds for the 2019 elections.

Nigeria Health Watch however added that as citizens we need to ask ourselves some pertinent questions as the politicians prepare to campaign for votes they hope will launch them to power in 2019. As a Nigerian citizen, are you satisfied with the state of healthcare in our country? Is the primary health centre in your community functioning effectively? If not, what is your Senator, your House of Representatives Member, your Governor, doing about it? Can you access specialist care without having to raise funds to fly to another country? If you or your loved one were to fall ill, would you be able to pay for their care for the next six months? Do you have health insurance? Is healthcare affordable for you and will it be affordable for your children?

By: Theresa Igata