The Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA) has urged the federal and state governments to upgrade hospitals nationwide for effective healthcare delivery and emergency responses.

Eleanor Nwadinobi, the president of MWIA, made the call in a statement on Saturday in Enugu following the death of Arise TV news anchor Somtochukwu Maduagwu.

Ms Nwadinobi said the tragic story surrounding the death of Ms Maduagwu of Arise News TV was a wake-up call for Nigeria and Nigerians.

She decried the current state of security institutions, medical and healthcare institutions, and Nigerian educational institutions.

“Nigeria has happened to Sommie and several others. Who will be next?

“The greatest sign of a dysfunctional healthcare system and lack of trust in healthcare institutions of a country occurs when the majority of the elite seek health care or die in foreign hospitals,” she said.

Ms Nwadinobi emphasised the need for the government to prioritise healthcare delivery and build confidence in the country’s health institutions.

“Silence is not an option, and medical women globally are joining their colleagues in Nigeria to advocate for improvement in the health care delivery system.

“It is a time for the Nigerian government to prioritise security, health care, and education.

“We must accept that the healthcare delivery system of Nigeria is broken, and we call for all hands to be on deck to simply fix it,” Ms Nwadinobi stated.

She, however, expressed MWIA’s most sincere condolences to Ms Maduagwu’s family, Nduka Obaigbena, the chairman and CEO of Thisday Arise Group, and Nigerians.

(NAN)