Borno, Kebbi, Kano are leading other states from Northern Nigerian that are facing healthcare system strain with higher number of people being attended by a health facility.
Data from the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine (WASHNORM) revealed how access to healthcare facilities has become a pressing issue, with thousands of people depending on limited functional healthcare centres across various states.
The imbalance in healthcare provision is evident, with millions of Nigerians having difficulty accessing even the most basic medical services.
According to StatiSense, a Nigerian data analytics and visualization firm, in Borno State, each functional health facility serves an average of 14,482 people, ranking third after two Southern States: Rivers and Anambra, with 18,929 and 15,544, respectively.
Kebbi, Kano and Jigawa States followed with 13,945, 13,092 and 12,253 people per healthcare facility.
These figures expose the severe strain on healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The situation is not much better in states like Jigawa and Sokoto, where one health facility must cater to 12,253 and 9,289 people, respectively.
With such ratios, the residents in these areas are left with little to no access to timely and adequate healthcare services.
This pressure on limited resources has only worsened the healthcare outcomes in the region.
States with Better Facility Distribution
In contrast, states like Nasarawa and Taraba fare slightly better, with a health facility serving 3,391 and 3,458 people, respectively. Osun, Imo, and Kogi States are among the five states with at least a better situation than others having 4,066, 4,089 and 4,388.
Although these figures are relatively lower, they still reveal disparities in healthcare accessibility across Nigeria, with some states facing the brunt of healthcare inadequacies more.
The consequences of this lack of access are dire. Preventable diseases and treatable conditions continue to claim lives as residents are forced to travel long distances to the nearest health facility, often arriving when it’s too late.
Pregnant women, children, and the elderly are especially vulnerable, with maternal and infant mortality rates remaining high.
Despite numerous calls for the government to prioritise funding to public healthcare, little has been done to bridge the gap between the population’s needs and the available healthcare infrastructure.
The lack of investment in healthcare facilities and the shortage of medical professionals exacerbate the problem, leaving millions without proper care.
The consequences continue to ripple through generations, perpetuating poverty and ill-health, especially in communities that are already struggling with numerous socio-economic challenges.
