Experts Demand Stronger Primary Care in Lagos

A recent three-day medical outreach in Lagos has pulled back the curtain on a deepening health crisis, prompting urgent calls for the state government to overhaul its primary healthcare system.

While the event was organized to honor the Eletu Odibo of Lagos, the traditional prime minister to the Oba of Lagos, the sheer volume of residents seeking help revealed a community struggling with undiagnosed chronic illnesses and a lack of basic infrastructure.

Experts at the scene warned that without a massive injection of funding and a focus on neighborhood clinics, the health of the nation’s commercial capital remains at high risk.

The outreach, sponsored by the Eko Elite Club of Indiana, USA, provided a lifeline to over 1,000 residents who converged from areas as far as Obalende and Anthony Village.

Medical Coordinator Dr. Fashesin Alao noted that the initiative was born out of a necessity to support those crushed by financial hardship. The reality on the ground was sobering: many who arrived for the free screenings were discovered to be living with dangerously high blood pressure, often without even knowing it.

From dental surgeries to malaria treatments and hepatitis screenings, the demand quickly outpaced the resources available, highlighting a massive gap in regular medical checkups among the populace.

Dr. Idris Omosoya, a member of the coordination team, shared alarming statistics from the field, noting that between 75 and 80 percent of those screened showed signs of hypertension.

Beyond clinical needs, Omosoya pointed to a “structural sickness” affecting health outcomes the lack of basic amenities.

He observed that many families are unable to even pump clean water from boreholes due to the erratic electricity supply, a deficit that turns simple hygiene into a daily struggle. This lack of infrastructure, he argued, is just as much a health crisis as the diseases themselves.

The high turnout, which saw more than 400 people attended to on the second day alone, underscored the desperation of residents for accessible care.

With support from the Ministry of Health and the Lions Club, the team of doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists worked tirelessly to distribute medications and over 100 pairs of eyeglasses.

However, the organizers concluded the event with a firm message to the authorities: private charity cannot replace a functional public system.

They insist that the only way to secure the city’s future is through a robust primary healthcare framework and the provision of essential services like clean water and reliable power for all.