Image of patient on drip in an open vehicle, not from Nigeria
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- A social media image showing a patient receiving an IV drip in an open vehicle was falsely claimed to be evidence of Nigeria's failing healthcare system.
- A fact-check traced the image to Ghana, where it depicted an emergency referral due to a lack of ambulance services.
- The image was shared widely on social media, with users linking it to Nigeria's healthcare challenges and political criticisms.
A viral image circulating on social media, depicting a patient receiving medical attention via an IV drip in the back of an open vehicle, has been misleadingly presented as evidence of Nigeria's "failed healthcare system." However, a fact-check has revealed the image originates from Ghana, not Nigeria.
When we talk about systemic failures, this is what we mean.
The image gained significant traction, with one X user's post attracting over two million views. Many commenters linked the scene to Nigeria's healthcare challenges, citing a lack of ambulances and criticizing political figures. Similar narratives appeared on Reddit and Facebook, amplifying the claim.
There are no ambulances to take you to the hospital, but there are buses to take you to Tinubuโs election campaign grounds.
Through a reverse image search, the image was traced to a Ghanaian blogger who posted it in May 2026. The blogger credited the photos to Stephen Opoku Awudu, who confirmed their authenticity. Awudu stated that a staff member from the Fame Health Centre in Tatale-Sanguli District, Northern Region, sent him the photos to highlight the absence of ambulance services and advocate for one.
This is just a tip from the well of system failure in the healthcare system, especially in my country, Nigeria.
Awudu identified the health worker in the image as Ruth, who had shared the photo first. The incident reportedly occurred during an emergency referral where a patient had to be transported in a tricycle due to the lack of proper ambulance services. This context directly contradicts the claims that the image was from Nigeria and was representative of systemic failures there.
These APC guys are stealing everything that can be stolen.
Originally published by Premium Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.