Timeline of healthcare in Nigeria
This is a timeline of healthcare in Nigeria, focusing on modern healthcare system. Major events such as policies and organizations are included.
Big picture
Year/period |
Key developments |
|---|---|
<1472 |
Traditional medicine is the system of healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Traditional healing and medical practices include herbalists, divine healers, soothsayers, midwives, spiritualists, bone-setters, mental health therapists and surgeons. Still today, these practices remain a viable part of the healthcare system in the country. |
1472–1880 |
Western-style healthcare is introduced in Nigeria by doctors brought by explorers and traders to cater for their own well being. |
1880–1945 |
Infrastructural base takes shape through the foundation of hospitals erected mainly by Christian missionaries. |
1945–Present |
Development of nationwide healthcare service in Nigeria through national development plans starting from the First Colonial Development plan in 1945 until the Five year Strategic Plan from 2004–2008. Nigeria is still a developing country with serious issues pertaining to healthcare. Poverty and large-scale corruption are big obstacles to improvement in the health and well being of the Nigerian population. |
Full timeline
Year/period |
Type of event |
Event |
Location |
|---|---|---|---|
1472 |
Background |
Portuguese navigators reach Nigerian coast. They bring European medicine, first to satisfy their own need. |
|
1861 |
Background |
Britain establishes the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. |
|
1880 |
Organization |
The first healthcare facility in Nigeria is a dispensary opened by the Church Missionary Society. |
Obosi |
1885 |
Organization |
The Sacred Heart Hospital is the first hospital established in Nigeria. It is built by the Roman Catholic Mission. |
Abeokuta |
1886 |
Organization |
Healthcare dispensaries are opened in Onitsha and Ibadan. |
Anambra State, Oyo State |
1893 |
Organization |
Lagos Island General Hospital is founded. |
Lagos |
1945–1955 |
Policy |
The First Colonial Development plan for healthcare in Nigeria is launched. The health system is regionalized. Most public hospitals provide cost free care for civil servants and their dependents while parallel church-owned hospitals provide care for the most needy in this period. |
|
1945 |
Organization |
National Orthopaedic Hospital is founded. |
Lagos |
1951 |
Organization |
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) is established. |
Abuja |
1952 |
Organization |
ECWA Hospital Egbe is founded. |
Egbe, Kogi State |
1952 |
Organization |
Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital is founded. |
Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State |
1952–1954 |
Policy |
The control of medical services is transferred to the Regional governments. |
|
1952 |
Organization |
University College Hospital, Ibadan is the first medical school established in Nigeria. |
Ibadan, Oyo State |
1954 |
Policy |
The overall national policy for Nationwide Health Care Services is stated in the Eastern Nigeria government report on "Policy for Medical and Health Services". The report states that the aim is to provide national health services for all, emphasizing the need for expansion of healthcare to rural areas. |
|
1956–1962 |
Policy |
The Second Colonial Development plan for healthcare in Nigeria is launched. |
|
1959 |
Organization |
ECWA Evangel Hospital is founded. |
Jos, Plateau State |
1960 |
Background |
Independence of Nigeria. |
|
1962–1968 |
Policy |
The First National Development Plan for healthcare is launched in Nigeria by the government. |
|
1965 |
Organization |
The United Nigeria Insurance Company (UNIC) is incorporated as a health maintenance organization (HMO). It provides medical insurance scheme and international medical insurance cover. |
Lagos State |
1968 |
Organization |
St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos is founded. |
Lagos |
1970–1975 |
Policy |
The Second National Development Plan for healthcare is launched in Nigeria by the government. |
|
1972 |
Crisis |
First appearance of epidemic cholera in Nigeria. From then on, intermittent outbreaks will occur throughout the years. |
|
1975–1980 |
Policy |
The Third National Development Plan for healthcare is launched in Nigeria by the government. |
|
1981 |
Organization |
Imo State University Teaching Hospital is founded. |
Owerri, Imo State |
1981–1985 |
Policy |
The Fourth National Development Plan for healthcare is launched in Nigeria by the government. |
|
1982 |
Organization |
Eko Hospital is founded. |
Lagos |
1984 |
Organization |
Hygeia international ltd is established as a Health Insurance Company. |
Lagos |
1986 |
Organization |
Lagoon Hospitals is founded as a healthcare company. |
Lagos |
1987 |
Policy |
The federal government launches its primary health care plan with the following major objectives: Improving collection and monitoring of health data, improving personnel development in the health care, ensuring the provision of essential [...] availability, improving on immunization programs, promoting treatment of epidemic diseases, improving food supply and nutrition, improving material, child care, and family planning; and educating people on prevailing health problems and the methods of preventing and controlling them. |
|
1988 |
Report |
Casual survey in Benin City shows that for every sign-post that indicates a Western-style clinic or office, there are 3 that indicates a traditional doctor. |
Benin City, Edo State |
1990 |
Organization |
Zenith medicare limited is incorporated as a health maintenance organization. It offers health insurance services to individuals, small groups of employers and to large corporate organizations in Nigeria. |
Abuja |
1993 |
Organization |
Federal Medical Center, Abeokuta is founded. |
Abeokuta |
1997 |
Organization |
Ahmadiyya Hospital Newbussa is founded. |
New Bussa, Niger State |
1997 |
Organization |
Premium health limited is incorporated as a health maintenance organization. It offers insurance covers to individuals, groups and corporate entities. |
Ibadan, Oyo State |
1997 |
Organization |
Healthcare International is established as a healthcare provider. |
Lagos |
1997 |
Organization |
Prepaid Medical services limited is incorporated as a health maintenance organization. It provides services for individuals, families, groups and corporate organizations. |
Abuja |
1998 |
Organization |
Total Health Trust starts operations as a healthcare provider. |
Lagos |
1999 |
Background |
Parliamentary and presidential elections. Olusegun Obasanjo is elected president. Nigeria regains democracy. |
|
1999–2005 |
Policy |
A new National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act amends the Nigerian health insurance, first incepted in 1962. The new scheme will not become operational until 2005. |
|
1999 |
Organization |
National Hospital, Abuja is founded. |
Abuja |
2000 |
Background |
Adoption of Sharia law by several Islamic northern states. |
|
2000 |
Organization |
Mediplan healthcare limited is incorporated as a health maintenance organization. It provides healthcare services to the public and corporate organizations. |
Lagos |
2001 |
Organization |
Reddington Hospital is founded. |
Lagos |
2001 |
Agreement |
Abuja Declaration. The African Union countries meet and pledge to set a target of allocating at least 15% of their annual budget on healthcare. |
Abuja |
2004 |
Report |
Health insurance coverage is estimated to be at 150,000 people, or about 0.1% of the total population of Nigeria. |
|
2004–2008 |
Policy |
Nigeria's Five year Strategic Plan for healthcare is launched by the government. |
|
2006 |
Policy |
New national health policy is adopted. The plan includes a re-designed National health insurance scheme that protects citizens against high costs of treatment, and a fair financing of health care providers. |
|
2010 |
Crisis |
Cholera epidemic breaks out in the north of Nigeria and extends to the rest of the country. 3,000 cases involved and 781 deaths. |
|
2014 |
Report |
Insurance coverage reaches about 5 million people in 2014 (a 3% of the total Nigerian population). |
|
2016 |
Report |
Life expectancy in Nigeria is estimated at 63.4 years, being ranked 216th out of 228 political subdivisions. |
|
See also
- Health in Nigeria
- Healthcare in Nigeria
- Timeline of global health