Experts Warn Failing Primary Healthcare Leaves Lagos Residents at Risk
Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Public health experts warn that persistent gaps in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across Lagos continue to expose millions of residents to preventable illness and rising medical costs.
The warning emerged on Tuesday at the launch of the GoFundPHC campaign, a civil society initiative backed by Pathfinder International to mobilise citizens and strengthen PHC financing and accountability statewide.
Chairman of the Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI), Ayo Adebusoye, describes PHCs as the foundation of an effective health system but says Lagos struggles with chronic weaknesses.
“Primary healthcare is the first point of contact, yet Lagos faces shortages of skilled workers, uneven facility distribution, limited 24-hour services and weak public trust,” Adebusoye says.
He notes that only about two-thirds of the required PHC workforce is currently available, while many wards lack functional centres. As a result, more than half of residents seek care in private or informal facilities.
“These gaps expose households to preventable illness, financial hardship and avoidable deaths, while overwhelming higher-level hospitals,” he adds.
The GoFundPHC campaign aims to mobilise youths and community leaders to track funding flows, document service readiness and demand improved PHC governance. Digital tools and grassroots monitoring form a core part of the strategy.
Adebusoye stresses that building new facilities alone will not solve the crisis.
“Infrastructure without sustainable financing, transparent fund management and accountability will fail,” he warns.
While acknowledging recent Lagos health reforms, PHSAI urges stronger coordination between the state government, local councils and LCDAs to ensure policies translate into reliable ward-level services.
Campaign organisers say restoring confidence in PHCs is essential to reducing healthcare inequality and protecting low-income families from catastrophic health spending.
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Hussaini Ibrahim 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Koko Maxwella 
Otamere Gladness