AMAMIHE Volume 23 Number 8 2025

PETER SINGER'S UTILITARIAN ETHICS AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN NIGERIA: ASSESSING HEALTHCARE INEQUALITY, VACCINATION DISTRIBUTION, AND MORAL DUTIES TOWARD THE POOR

Chinedu S. Ifeakor, PhD
Abstract

The healthcare system in Nigeria is highly unequal and goes against the principle of utilitarianism which implies maximization of aggregate welfare. The analysis is based on the utilitarian model by Peter Singer to analyze the healthcare disparities, vaccination distribution, and moral responsibilities towards the poor. The results of the research indicate that the cost of healthcare among poor Nigerians is nearly nine times higher than it is among affluent citizens, and immunization is less than optimal 72 percent DTP3 coverage in West and Central Africa. The analysis shows that utilitarian ethics can be used to solve the issues of health inequalities by redistributing resources, increasing access to vaccinations, and implementing interventions that maximize health results to the greatest number of people through the equal consideration principle by Singer and the drowning child argument. The findings will assist applied ethics in global health as well as give policy recommendations based on utilitarian philosophy. 

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