The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the health sector and allocate significant funds to it in the 2024 budget.

The call followed a motion by Fayinka Oluwatoyin (APC-Lagos) during plenary in Abuja.

In his motion, Oluwatoyin noted that Nigeria, as the most populous country in Africa, faces alarmingly high rates of dilapidated health facilities.

He said that only 20% of Nigeria’s primary healthcare centers are functional, particularly in rural areas lacking adequate facilities and staffing.

Oluwatoyin also noted that the lack of medical equipment, drugs, qualified personnel, electrical systems, beds, and road networks had increased the death toll in healthcare centers.

The House, in its resolution, urged the Federal Ministry of Health to encourage states to resuscitate the comatose primary healthcare programs at the grassroots level.

It also urged the ministry to provide qualitative and affordable healthcare for the masses.