Financial hardship, corruption and pollution are among the main reasons Nigerians are not living longer, healthier lives, according to a report from the advocacy group Gatefield, Premium Times reports.
The LiveWell Longevity Factor Report, presented by chief executive Adewunmi Emoruwa at a health summit in Abuja, surveyed more than 1,000 people in Abuja, Lagos and Kano. More than half said they had struggled to pay for healthcare, and nearly half were managing a health condition themselves or for a relative. One in eight said they cared for someone with a chronic illness such as diabetes or heart disease.
The report notes that patients in Nigeria pay a large share of medical costs directly; separate Commonwealth Fund figures put out-of-pocket spending at about 71% of total health expenditure in 2023. Mr Emoruwa called for more focus on prevention and on the wider conditions affecting health.
Source: Premium Times
