Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister for Health & Social Welfare saiɗ improving population health outcomes and, ensuring financial protection to the vulnerable in the country is imperative for implementation by the President Bola Tinubu’s led administration.
Prof Muhammad Ali Pate also said, aligning with the mission of the present administration is maintaining industrial peace and harmony in a critical sector as Health.
In a statement issued on Friday, by Alaba Balogun, the Deputy Director, PR & Information, Pate revealed this at the opening ceremony of the 65th National Council of Health in Maiduguri Borno State, held at the Mohammad Indimi Centre for Distance Learning, University of Maiduguri, Borno.
The theme of the 65th NCH meeting is ” Accelerating Pathways To Universal Health Coverage: Strategies For 2030 Success”; which attracted Commissioners of health from the 36 states, Top Management Staff of the Ministry, Development Partners and Civil Society organisations.
While stating the achievements in the health sector under the National Health Renewal Investment Initiative, the Coordinating Minister said the Ministry has responded to the needs of citizens, understanding their perceptions, perspectives and giving a feedback.
He posited that under the first pillar of governance, the Ministry has mobilised and and repositioned regulatory bodies at the Federal level, while the National Food Drug & Administration Control NAFDAC has been a strong regulator pivotal to the safety and effectiveness of health products and distribution system.
The Minister said the collaboration between the Federal and State governments for achieving and improving population health outcomes, has seen more than 8,000 primary health care centres in the country benefitted from the N46 billion released by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
He pointed out the training of more than 43,000 frontline health workers from a target of 120,000, and is still ongoing, is a proof of this partnership.
“We have expanded the medical relief program to provide targeted support to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable access products when they need them, Prof Pate said.
“The revitalisation of primary health care has been underway, and more will be revitalised. I think we have visibility to almost 4,000 in collaboration with the states”, he added.Furthermore, Prof Pate revealed that efforts by the Federal Government to make affordability to healthcare by women with obstetric fistula complications is yielding positive results, coupled with reducing maternal mortality in the country.
“On the affordability side, through the National Health Insurance Authority NHIA, the obstetric complication of Vesico Vaginal Fistula, we’ve had more than 1,000 women already being prepared for their obstetric fistula complications free of charge since that initiative was announced. “In addition, in an effort to reduce the maternal mortality, we know that at least 30 primary health care centres, secondary facilities are able to offer similar services.
“These services are being provided by the NHIA and, more will be provided. “By the end of the year, we’ll have less than 100, and they would have reimbursement for NHIA to offer these free services for emergencies for women when they face obstetric complications, including cesarean sections”, Prof. Pate explained.
Speaking on the importance of maintaining industrial harmony in the health sector, the Coordinating Minister appealed to the various professional groups to place the people at the centre of attention, stressing, the issues that they have are being resolved by this administration front-end.
While declaring the 65th National Council on Health open, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, asserted that Borno State is deeply committed to realising the goals outlined in the Abuja Declaration, which which called on every State to allocate at least 15% of their annual budget to health.
The Executive Governor seized the opportunity of the occasion to announce and approve a pay rise for medical doctors in the state civil service, in parity with their counterparts in federal public service. To this end, he directed the state Commissioner of health to liaise with relevant government agency to bridge gaps in payment between doctors working for the state and federal government.
He described the NCH meeting as a forum to collaborate, brainstorm and deliver on the mandate of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR towards actualising the goal to save lives, reduce both physical and financial pain and, produce health for all Nigerians.
Delivering vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom mni; commended the Executive Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum for agreeing to host the 65th NCH a year ago and, for his warm and enchanting hospitality to delegates and participants since their arrival to Maiduguri.
Also, the Permanent Secretary acknowledged and thanked the Executive Governor for his commitment to improving the welfare of the health workforce in Borno State.