Healthcare facilities which should be life saving centers have become death traps steadily claiming the lives of young Nigerians.
In many parts of the world, a simple groundnut is nothing more than a snack, but in Nigeria, it can be the difference between life and death.
It is heartbreaking to discover that in 2025, a simple incident such as aspiration of groundnut can claim the life of a young promising boy. On March 16, 2025, a desperate father took to his X (formerly called Twitter) account to recount how he lost his child due to lack of a medical equipment known as tracheostomy tube in the whole of Ebonyi State. He lamented the difficulty in getting an X-ray done to identify the cause of his son’s difficulty in breathing. Despite finally identifying the cause of his son’s breathing difficulty, the absence of essential medical equipment meant doctors couldn’t save him.
In his post, he stated “God, don’t let anything happen to my son. Ebonyi State is your forefathers’ home, nothing will happen to you. Since 12pm, they are just now agreeing to treat you. The whole of Ebonyi State does not have a tracheostomy tube to remove groundnut, and the scan results show nothing”.
Following his outcry on X, several X users have come out to describe their experiences with the consequence of medical equipment shortage.
This incident is not isolated as several healthcare facilities in various regions of the country have faced challenges due to shortage of medical equipment and resources. Many healthcare workers have been left helpless as they watch their patients take their last breath due to the shortage of medical equipment and resources to work with. Every year, the Nigerian government allocates a meager portion of the national budget to healthcare, leaving hospitals ill-equipped to handle even the most routine emergencies.
Healthcare facilities which should be life saving centers have become death traps steadily claiming the lives of young Nigerians. Many Nigerians now choose to pray over their failing health, rather than seek medical intervention in healthcare facilities. How many more lives must be lost before the government takes meaningful action?
This incident should serve as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to address medical equipment shortages in our healthcare facilities. The government, private sector, and well-meaning individuals must act before the healthcare system collapses entirely. It’s time to stop waiting for the next tragedy. Lives are at stake, and inaction is no longer an option.