Aproko Doctor’s Noble Act and the Bigger Governance Question

His caption read, “Our leaders can do better. The primary healthcare centers are the bedrock of our healthcare.” The video, now nearing a million views, highlighted the appalling condition of the facility, which should have been a lifeline for the community it serves. On January 25th, 2025, Nigeria’s and arguably Africa’s foremost health advocate and content creator, Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor, shared a video inspecting a Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in a pitiable state.

Our leaders can do better. The primary health care centers are the bedrock of our healthcare.

This is not a doctor’s problem, it’s a Nigerians problem. It’s our job to demand for better healthcare. pic.twitter.com/xcyu2wOGRI

— Dr. Chinonso Egemba (@aproko_doctor) January 27, 2025

Aproko Doctor’s frustration at the poor state of the PHC was palpable, and rightly so. He lamented the neglect of this vital healthcare structure and urged leaders to invest more in PHCs, given their proximity and importance to the people. However, instead of rallying public officials or leveraging the power of civic pressure to compel the Local Government Chairman and other relevant authorities to act, Aproko Doctor took matters into his own hands. Just two days later, on January 27th, 2025, he posted a donation link for the renovation of the facility, promising to provide the barest minimum to ensure that women in the area could access healthcare. 

This is not an isolated incident. In recent times, private citizens have increasingly stepped into roles that should firmly belong to the government. Asherkine built pipe-borne water systems for a community in Jos. Now, Aproko Doctor is renovating a PHC. These actions are undeniably noble and impactful, but they raise a critical question: Where does it end?  In a world where public servants often abdicate their responsibilities, acts of philanthropy by private citizens shine brightly. Still, they also cast a shadow on the systemic failures they aim to address. 

Philanthropy cannot and should not be a substitute for good governance. While the acts of individuals like Aproko Doctor highlight their compassion and commitment to societal well-being, they also inadvertently let leaders off the hook. PHCs like the one Aproko Doctor visited lie squarely under the purview of Local Government authorities. With funds now directly channeled to Local Governments—including support from states, federal grants, and other bodies—there is no excuse for the dereliction of duty when it comes to providing basic healthcare.

Dr. Ikpeme Neto, founder of Wellahealth, succinctly captured the role of citizens in this equation: “PHC’s are the responsibility of your local government. They also get support funding from states and federal governments and other bodies via a number of grants. Our job as citizens is to close-mark the LGA chairman and the PHC managers, ask where all the money is going.”

The deeper issue here is governance. When private citizens continuously step in to address systemic failures, they inadvertently create a culture of tolerance for mediocrity in governance. It shifts the burden of responsibility away from elected officials, making it easier for them to abdicate their duties without consequence.

Aproko Doctor’s act of renovating the PHC is undeniably laudable, but it also highlights the urgent need for systemic accountability. Philanthropy can provide temporary relief, but it cannot be the norm. True progress lies in holding our leaders accountable, ensuring that funds meant for critical services like healthcare are utilized appropriately, and fostering a culture where public service is synonymous with public good.

It is time for citizens to rise, not just with donations, but with demands for transparency, accountability, and governance that truly serves the people. Only then can we ensure that acts of charity, as noble as they are, remain the exception rather than the rule.