By Damiete Braide
At Babcock University’s 52nd inaugural lecture, Professor Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, an expert in Health Law and award-winning author, delivered an address on the crucial role of legal frameworks in shaping Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Speaking at the School of Law and Security Studies, Onyemelukwe’s lecture, titled “The Law as Compass, Lev, or Stumbling Block? Harnessing the Power of Law to Reify and Realise the Right to Health,” underscored the urgent need for legislative and judicial intervention to guarantee healthcare as a fundamental right for all Nigerians.
She stressed that while several legal provisions already recognize the right to health, including the National Health Act, the Child Rights Act, the Anti-HIV/AIDS Discrimination Act, and the National Mental Health Act, these laws remain ineffective without proper implementation.
“For without implementation, these words become dead on paper, and we deserve more than that as Nigerians,” she asserted.
One of the most distressing failures of the healthcare system, according to Onyemelukwe, is the alarming rate of maternal mortality. She described it as a national disgrace that women continue to die during childbirth due to inadequate medical care. Many women, she noted, still lack access to prenatal care, contraceptives, and essential health information. In rural areas, the absence of well-equipped healthcare facilities further endangers lives, particularly in cases of childbirth complications.
“It is shameful that we have not yet solved these problems,” she stated. “Women should not have to die giving birth in a country that has the means to prevent it. If we cannot address everything at once, we must at least start with these urgent issues.” She urged policymakers to prioritize maternal health by expanding access to healthcare services, particularly in underserved communities.
Onyemelukwe acknowledged that the Nigerian government has increased its healthcare budget in recent years. However, she emphasized that inflation and the withdrawal of foreign aid have placed additional strain on the sector. While the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and current budgetary allocations represent progress, they are not enough to meet the growing demands of the population.
She called for the government to uphold its commitment to the 15% healthcare budget allocation outlined in the Abuja Declaration of 2001. “Healthcare funding should not be an afterthought. It must be a priority,” she argued. “We must determine that the budget going forward has to be healthier.”
Onyemelukwe expressed hope for a future where all Nigerians, regardless of location, have access to quality healthcare. “It is my hope that one day, healthcare in Lagos will be just as accessible and effective as in Zamfara,” she said. She urged state governments to take responsibility, learn from one another, and ensure that their residents receive the best possible healthcare services.
Babcock University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ademola Tayo, commended Onyemelukwe’s lecture, noting its relevance in addressing Nigeria’s current healthcare challenges. He emphasized that her recommendations could serve as a valuable roadmap for policymakers, legal professionals, and healthcare stakeholders working towards an improved health sector.
The message was clear: healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and Nigeria must do more to ensure that every citizen receives the quality medical care they deserve.
