The Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress [NDC], Peter Obi has called on the federal government, and government at all levels to take the lead in actively investing in health to guarantee a healthier population for all.
He made the call on Thursday while meeting with about 1,000 kidney patients in Enugu State in charity event sponsored by Emmanuel Onyeka Okoh (Okwuluora).
The former Anambra State governor says the visits was one of the most disheartening he ever had.
“I encountered people facing the most difficult moments of their lives, helplessly, in a country of abundance, among them children”, he said.
“Nigeria has over 25 million people with kidney disease. We have fewer than 200 kidney centres and barely 500 functioning dialysis machines, when we ideally need about 5,000 functioning dialysis machines. This is completely unacceptable”, he further stated.
The full statement is published below…
Depressing visit to helpless citizens of a country of plenty.
Yesterday, after the funeral mass of Most Rev Obiora Akubeze in Benin City, I travelled to Enugu to meet nearly 1,000 kidney patients. It was one of the most disheartening visits I have had.
I encountered people facing the most difficult moments of their lives, helplessly, in a country of abundance, among them children.
Nigeria has over 25 million people with kidney disease. We have fewer than 200 kidney centres and barely 500 functioning dialysis machines, when we ideally need about 5,000 functioning dialysis machines. This is completely unacceptable.
I must commend the organiser of the charity project, Emmanuel Onyeka Okoh (Okwuluora), for his selfless humanitarian service to Nigerians who cannot help themselves. I assured him of my ongoing support, starting today with my initial donation to his work with the kidney patients.
The Federal Government, and Government at all levels must take the lead in actively investing in health to guarantee a healthier population for all.
A new Nigeria is POssible. -PO
