ILAJE ARISE

THE HEALTHCARE RIGHT NIGERIANS DON’T KNOW THEY HAVE AND HOW HOSPITALS ARE BREAKING THE LAW
Most Nigerians don’t know this, and that ignorance is costing lives:

Since 2014, there has been a powerful law in Nigeria that gives every citizen the right to FREE emergency healthcare and basic medical services.

This law is called:

THE NATIONAL HEALTH ACT (NHA), 2014

Signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan in October 2014.

And yet, 10 years later, millions of Nigerians still don’t know it exists. Hospitals disregard the law and Ministry of Health embezzles the funds meant for it.

HERE’S WHAT THIS LAW GUARANTEES YOU (AND THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW)

Under SECTION 20, SECTION 27, and SECTION 29 of the National Health Act:

1. No hospital in Nigeria has the right to reject you during an emergency whether you have money or not.

This means:
-Accident victims
-Pregnant women in labour
-Gunshot victims
-Stroke victims
-Heart attack and asthma patients
-Children in critical condition

MUST be treated immediately whether they have money or not.

It is ILLEGAL for hospitals to demand money before saving a life.

This includes:
-Government hospitals
-Private hospitals
-Clinics
-Mission hospitals
-Specialist centres
-Teaching hospitals
-CHEWs and PHCs

ALL HEALTH FACILITIES are bound by this law.

Yes, private hospitals are also obligated to stabilize emergency patients before talking about money.

This is not advice. This is not a plea.
This is federal law.

2. The Law Also Guarantees Free Essential Healthcare Nationwide

The Act mandates that every Nigerian is entitled to a Basic Minimum Package of Health Services (BMHS), which includes:

-Free immunization
-Free antenatal care
-Free childbirth services
-Free family planning services
-Free treatment for common illnesses at PHCs
-Free care for children under 5
-Free emergency stabilization

These are not promises.
These are legal entitlements you can hold the government ad hospitals accountable for.

3. The Government Must Finance This With a Dedicated Health Fund

The National Health Act created the:

Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF)

To be funded with:

At least 1% of Nigeria’s entire Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) EVERY YEAR.

Meaning:

Even if the government doesn’t feel like it.
Even if budgets are tight.
Even if politicians claim “no money”

The law forces the government to fund:
-Primary health centers
-Drugs and medical supplies
-Health insurance for the poor
-Emergency medical systems
-Maternal and child healthcare

This money is supposed to reach all 774 LGAs.

SO WHY ARE PEOPLE STILL DYING IN FRONT OF HOSPITALS?

Because:
-Hospitals ignore the law.
-The government refuses to enforce it.
-Nigerians don’t know their rights.
-Corruption drains the BHCPF.
-Emergency care is monetized.
-PHCs are abandoned.
-Private hospitals act with impunity.

Patients are turned away for N20,000 Naira.
Women die during childbirth because nurses demand “folder fee.”
Accident victims bleed to death on floors.
Gunshot victims are rejected without police report, even though THAT is also illegal.

Nigeria do not lack good laws.
Our problem is a lack of enforcement and a lack of awareness.

MOST NIGERIANS DO NOT KNOW THEY HAVE THESE RIGHTS.
That’s why hospitals get away with murder, literally.

A Nigerian can die today in front of a hospital gate
because that hospital refused to treat them without payment.

Even though the law says:

“A health care provider SHALL NOT refuse a person emergency treatment for any reason whatsoever.”

That “SHALL NOT” is not suggestion.
It is a legal COMMAND.

WE SHOULD ALL ASK:

If the law exists, If the funding exists, If the obligation exists….

Why are Nigerians still paying with their lives?

Why do private hospitals act like they are above the law? Why do government hospitals break rules they are funded to obey?
Why does the Ministry of Health look away?
Why do we keep losing mothers in labour, accident victims, and innocent children?

Until Nigerians start demanding their rights,
and until hospitals face consequences for rejecting emergencies, this nation will continue burying people who should still be alive.

The Secret of Good Luck ☘️

Long ago, in a small village, there were twin brothers named Adam and Leo.
Same family, same childhood, but as they grew up, their personalities became completely different.

Adam was always complaining:
“Life is so unfair. Other people are always luckier than me.”

But Leo would always say:
“If I’m not lucky today, I’ll just prepare better so I can welcome luck tomorrow.”

One day, a rumor spread through the village:
“Early tomorrow morning, anyone who climbs Early Moon Mountain will have a chance to meet the Old Man of Good Luck. Whoever meets him, their life will change.”

Hearing that, Adam smirked:
“If he really wants to give me luck, he’ll come find me himself. Why should I tire myself climbing a mountain at dawn?”

Leo, on the other hand, quietly started preparing:
He oiled his worn-out shoes.
He patched his old coat.
He packed some dry bread and water in a small bottle.
He went to bed early so he could wake up before dawn.

When the sky was still full of mist, Leo woke up.
The path up the mountain was slippery, the rocks were sharp, the wind was cold.
He tripped and fell many times, his knees were scraped, but he kept climbing.
Halfway up the mountain, Leo saw an old man with white hair, dressed very simply, sitting by the roadside, panting. Next to him was a wooden cart loaded with firewood.

The old man spoke softly in a tired voice:
“Son, could you help me push this cart up the slope ahead? Just a short stretch.”

Leo looked at the path above, thinking about the Old Man of Good Luck everyone talked about.
If he was late, he might miss his chance.

But then he saw the old man’s trembling hands and sighed:
“Alright, I’ll help you.”
The slope was short, but it took a long time to push the cart up.
Sweat soaked through Leo’s back.

When they finally reached the top of the slope, the old man thanked him:
“Thank you, son. Without you, I don’t think I could have made it.”

Leo just smiled:
“It’s okay, sir. I have to keep going or I’ll be late.”

He quickly said goodbye and continued to climb.
When he finally reached the top of the mountain, the sun was already high.
The mountaintop was empty, only wind and clouds.
No Old Man of Good Luck, no miracles, no treasure.
Leo dropped down to sit, sighing:
“I must have missed it…”

He sat there for a long time, then stood up, getting ready to head back.
Just as he turned around, Leo saw… the same old man from earlier.
But this time, his clothes looked brighter, and his eyes were strangely clear.

He smiled and looked at Leo:
“Who are you looking for, son?”
“I… I came up here to meet the Old Man of Good Luck, sir. But I guess I came too late.”

The old man burst out laughing:
“If you’re late… then no one has ever been on time. Because I am the Old Man of Good Luck you’re looking for.”

Leo’s eyes widened:
“What? Then why were you… pretending to be a tired old man with a heavy cart of firewood?”

The old man looked deep into his eyes and spoke slowly:
“Good luck often disguises itself as someone who needs help.”
“Good luck often hides inside the tasks no one wants to do.”
“Good luck often hides in the exhausting uphill roads where people give up halfway.”

He paused for a moment, then asked:
“If earlier you had only thought about yourself and left me behind with the cart of firewood,
do you think I would be standing in front of you like this now?”
Leo stayed silent.

The old man smiled gently:
“People often think luck is a gift that falls from the sky.
But in truth, luck only comes to those who:
Are not afraid of long distances.
Are not afraid of hardship.
Do not turn their back when someone needs help.
Good luck is never late.
It’s just that we… shortcut, give up, or turn back too soon.”

Then the old man handed Leo a small pouch. Inside was… a tiny seed.
Seeing Leo’s disappointed expression, he chuckled:
“This is the only gift luck can give: the seed of opportunity.
Whether it becomes a tree, whether it bears fruit…
that depends on your own hands and your persistence, not on me.”

When Leo came back to the village, everyone crowded around to ask:
“Did you meet the Old Man of Good Luck?”
“What did he give you? Gold? Silver? Jewels?”

Leo just smiled and opened his hand.
In his palm was a small seed.
Adam saw it and sneered:
“You climbed a whole mountain, and all you brought back was a seed? What bad luck.”

But Leo didn’t argue.
He found a good patch of soil behind the house, planted the seed, and watered it every day.
Under burning sun, he still watered it.
In light rain, he still went out to check on it.
Month after month, the tree grew taller, its branches spread wide, and one day it was heavy with fruit.
The fruits were sweet and fragrant, and soon traders crowded in to buy and sell.

Leo, once a poor young man, became well-off and was able to help many other people.
People were amazed and said:
“Leo is so lucky.”

Leo looked at the big tree in front of his house and smiled softly:
“Luck… is just the name people give to persistence, kindness,
and the hard things we chose not to avoid.”

📒The Lesson of the Story
Good luck is not:
Being given something for free.
Sitting still and waiting for opportunity to knock on your door.

Good luck often appears in the form of:
A tiring, steep hill.
A person who needs help.
A task everyone else avoids.
A tiny seed that seems… almost worthless.

☘️The secret of good luck is:
“When you’re willing to do the things others avoid,
you’ll receive the things others will never have.”
If you are struggling right now,
if you’re “halfway up the mountain,”
if you’re pushing some kind of “cart of firewood” in your own life…
Who knows?
The Old Man of Good Luck might be much closer to you than you think. 🌱✨

Recap on the just concluded Anniversary at Holy Apostles Church, Ijora branch. The minister in charge for the church building anniversary was Ap Soso and other guest who honored the invitation include, Otunba omogbemi Steven, Snr Apostle Ikuyelorimi, Sunday Edawole and many more.

The just concluded annual anniversary of the Holy Apostles Community church, Ijora branch. Thanks for your support and involvement