Health Education in the Local Languages: The Exigency of Improved Healthcare in Nigeria

Abstract

The problem of inadequate and poor health services in Nigeria is worrisome. This paper links the deplorable situation to the absence of healthcare education in the local languages. In fact there exists lack of appropriate health terms for diseases and ailment in the local languages. For there to be improved healthcare, such terms should be provided and used in the education of healthcare personnel to enable them properly educate the masses on health matters, that is to enable them adequately deliver health care services to the masses. To provide the terms, this paper suggests two things. One is exploiting the linguistic resource of the local languages and the other is introduction of loan words or colnages based on native roots.