By Dele Ogbodo
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has unveiled a nine-point, medium-term plan, to ramp up the push towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC),
geared towards Nigeria’s health sector development in the coming years.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja, he enumerated the agenda to include: implementation of mandatory universal health insurance in collaboration with State governments and the FCT Administration, operationalization of the basic health care provision fund (BHCPF) in collaboration with partners and agencies, recruitment and deployment of 50,000 community health extension workers; revamping Federal Teaching Hospitals across the country.
The others are a collaboration with private sector investors to establish high-quality hospitals in Nigeria, reduction of gaps in all health-related SDGs by at least 60% and reduction in the current imbalance between primary, secondary, and tertiary health care, active, collaboration with the private sector to create a large number of well-paying jobs for Nigerian youths.
He said: “Our ministry is responsible for the National Health system and its performance, and provides strategic support to States, Local Government Areas, the private sector and development partners. It coordinates the development of required Human Resources for Health and the infrastructure needed.”
He admitted that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to the Health Systems of all countries like never before, adding that resilient systems have been nearly brought to their knees by the sheer volume of patients they have to be catered to, and some have had to face embarrassing scarcity of simple items like face masks or sanitizers.
He pointed out that even though Nigeria’s health system has not fared so badly so far in the global COVID-19 outbreak, “but we nonetheless have good reason to also examine our not-so-strong Health system, which is why we are here gathered today with Stakeholders, Partners, Donors, Civil Society, Academia, well-wishers and the media. He also reassured that “despite disruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic, progress has been made on all points.”
According to him, COVID-19 throws up the need to strengthen Nigeria’s health sector, assuring for better coordination among the component institutions and along all tiers of government, as well as chances to improve synergy with partners, CSOs and other stakeholders.
While commending the media, he enjoined everyone to collaborate, partner and join hands with the Ministry in moving the Health Sector forward as according to him, health services is not a “solo event but team event.”
In a remark, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Abdulaziz Mashi Abdullahi informed that the event was for the media and other stakeholders to get the chance to seek clarifications, support and contribute towards a greater health sector 2021 and also provides the opportunity to begin the roll-out of the road map so that Nigerians will fully participate in supporting its successful implementation.
Also speaking, the Representative of CSOs, Prof. Oladapo Ladipo, called for the implementation of Basic Health care Provision Fund which will enable individuals both at the rural and urban areas to be able to have access to good quality health care services.
He said: “When we focus on preventing some of the diseases, we will have less work to do in the health sector. We do not have to spend much resources on the treatment of diseases.”
He, however, commended the federal government for launching the National Health Promotion policy recently, which will ensure that a large number of Nigerians have access to quality health care service delivery.
According to him, the policy will enable all Nigerians to have access to health care services irrespective of their location, adding: “We pledge our support to advocate for good health care facilities to the populace. We would ensure that women and children have access to good family planning services.”