Factors influencing the distributions of health in Lagos, Nigeria.

Lagos. Image source (https://bedroom.designonvine.com)

Lagos is a home for all and according to a popular saying ‘’ Lagos is a no man’s land’’. Lagos is both a state and a city and it is located in the south-western part (6°27’14.65″N, 3°23’40.81″E) of Nigeria. 

Compared to other cities, Lagos has a relatively small geographical size of about (3400 km2), half of which is covered with water. However, over 15 million inhabitants occupy the city, and the population is predicted to double in 2025. This makes Lagos, the most populous city in Nigeria and the sixth most populous city in Africa. 

The migration of most people to Lagos is because of its urbanization i.e., the presence of several economical and financial facilities which include many industries as well as many banks that recruit several young populations from different parts of the country. Most of the high buildings in the picture above are actually banks😀.

What factors influence people’s health in Lagos

Generally, the Nigerian health care system is below standards and Lagos being the most populous city in Nigeria suffers most of the consequences of a bad health system. The health of the population in Lagos is mostly affected by socio-economic and environmental factors rather than individual factors.

 This means that access to good health in the state is a function of occupation, education as well as the socio-economic status of an individual. For example, many people working in the banks and other private sectors have access to health via the allocation of HMOs (Health management organizations). Also, civil servants i.e. government workers (not all) can access free health care provided by the government. however, nothing of such exists for non-cooperate and non-government workers and as such, market women, bus drivers, and contemporary people are left to fend for their health by themselves. Hence, health is not equally distributed in the state. 

Environmental factors also affect people’s health in Lagos. Many people in Lagos do not have access to clean water and due to the concentration of people in this city, access to green space is limited. People are always in traffic congestion which is detrimental to their health. 

This is Lagos. Image source (https://guardian.ng).

 The state is characterized by poor living standards, poor housing system, poor governance, inadequate sewage, and water treatment systems,  inadequate drainage system,  low health budget,  health illiteracy,  apparent inequality,  lack of good health policy or health insurance,  under-developed health care system, occupational hazards, lack of health surveillance system, lack of good sanitation and hygiene and lastly lack of strict regulations prohibiting antibiotic misuse. 

As mentioned earlier,  social economic factors exceed individual determinants of health but the effects of individual lifestyles on health cannot be overlooked.  Such behaviors as alcoholism are widespread in the state and predispose people to diabetes and hypertension.

Way Out ?😏

• Government should focus more on people’s health by establishing policies that ensure that all inhabitants in Lagos regardless of their socio-economic status have access to health
• Health is not cheap, if it is cheap, someone paid for it. There should be paid health insurance policies for everyone in the state. They can help to boost the health care system and also give individuals access to health.
• People should be careful and change health-risk behaviors to health-promoting ones.