BY Jesupemi Are
SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence, a geopolitical research firm, has ranked Lagos and Ogun as the top performing states on its health preparedness index (HPI).
The firm said the HPI is derived from a comprehensive set of indicators reflecting each state’s overall health infrastructure and outcomes.
The indicators include health budget per capita, average household size, human development index, doctor-to-population ratio, infant/child mortality rate, life expectancy at birth, and immunisation coverage among children aged 12-23 and 24-35 months.
In placing the rankings, the ratio of doctors to patients is given the highest importance, with 30 points, followed by infant mortality at 25 points.
The state’s health budget per capita and the percentage of the total budget allocated to health each carry a weight of 10 points.
Household size carry a lower weight of 5 points.
According to the firm’s 2024 report released on Wednesday, Lagos was the top-performing state in 2023 with a score of 25.09 points, followed by Ogun with 23.23 points, improving from 4th place in 2021.
“Ekiti made a significant leap from 13th to 3rd place with a score of 23.04,” the report reads.
“Bayelsa and Ondo round out the top five with scores of 22.99 and 22.86, respectively, moving from 11th to 4th and 2nd to 5th places.”
On the other end of the spectrum, several states in the northern region face significant health challenges, according to the report.
“Zamfara (13.04), Gombe (12.67), Sokoto (12.18), Kebbi (11.93), and Yobe (11.83) occupy the bottom positions on the HPI,” the report reads.
“Despite some improvements in health budget allocations across various states, the overall health landscape in Nigeria remains concerning.
“Many states continue to grapple with deepening health challenges exacerbated by inadequate infrastructural improvements.
“This underscores the urgent need for sustained, strategic investments in healthcare infrastructure, human resources and service delivery across all states to enhance Nigeria’s overall health preparedness.”
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