Nigerian comedian and actor Nosa Afolabi, popularly known as Lasisi Elenu, has called on the Federal Government and state governors to urgently address challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Elenu made the appeal in a social media video that has garnered more than three million views, directing his concerns to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other state governors.
The comedian said his concerns were shaped by personal experiences, including the death of his mother in 2022, which he said involved repeated attempts to secure a hospital bed.
“I shared with you how she was moved from one federal hospital to another. They all said the same thing. It was like a script. No bed space, no bed space, no bed space,” he said.
He also recounted the recent death of a family friend, alleging that the individual was taken to several hospitals before admission could be secured.
“A family friend recently who lost their life, before they could get admission in a federal government hospital, a federal government hospital, they went to five different hospitals,” Elenu said.
According to him, the difficulty of securing hospital beds can force families to move critically ill patients between facilities while dealing with traffic and other delays.
He further criticised what he described as inadequate healthcare infrastructure, poor data systems and shortages of essential medical resources, including oxygen, blood, medicines and hospital beds.
Elenu also raised concerns about the migration of medical professionals from Nigeria, arguing that authorities should pay greater attention to the conditions driving doctors and other healthcare workers to leave the country.
“Doctors are running every day from the country. Are you people not concerned?” he asked.
While criticising the treatment he said some patients and families receive in hospitals, Elenu acknowledged that his comments did not apply to every healthcare worker.
“Now I’m not saying every medical personnel behaves like this, but I am stating today that a vast majority are unhappy with their jobs,” he said.
The comedian urged authorities to look beyond cosmetic improvements to healthcare facilities and focus on broader reforms that would improve access to medical care.
“Not decorating one part of the building, painting it blue and white. That’s not what we are talking about,” he said.
Elenu ended the emotional appeal by expressing concern for Nigerians who may require medical attention, saying his experiences had left him feeling let down by the healthcare system.
“I pray you will not have a need to be, they have failed me. They have failed my family,” he said.
Elenu called for urgent action to improve healthcare infrastructure and access, stressing that Nigerians should not have to rely on personal connections to receive medical care.
Ademide Adebayo
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