Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare on Wednesday applauded the activities of the Basis Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) which have rubbed off positively on the country’s health sector.
Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate also said the federal government, through the Ministry of Health has made it possible for more than ten million Nigerians to have access to primary healthcare centres, funded by the BHCPF.
The Minister said efforts are ongoing to enhance governance mechanisms that will guarantee maximum utilisation of resources to reach intended beneficiaries which are the poorest and most vulnerable populations.
“Every penny disbursed must translate to quality primary healthcare services”, he stressed.“We have seen more than 10 million BHCPF funded facilities and more than 2.6 billion Nigerians have been impacted over the last one year and we have seen improved funding, Prof Pate said on Thursday at the 9th Basic Health Care Provision Fund Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting, in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
“Health is on the move. The initiative of Mr. President (Bola Tinubu) is working. This is early steps as we go into 2025.
“This is just one year of progress, and we expect to achieve even more in the coming year”, emphasizing the commitment of the government to improved healthcare delivery for all Nigerians.
Prof. Pate commended the President Bola Tinubu led adminstration and its positive impact on the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative by the President. He said “these are early steps, and they appear to be working. We need to build on this momentum in 2025”.
Buttressing the dynamics of the BHCPF, the Coordinator Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and Ministerial Oversight Committee Secretary, Dr. Mukhtar Yawale pointed out, Nigeria’s Health Sector has experienced an unprecedented progress and development within a short period.
He described the coordination of the sector and pulling of resources in one place by the donors both national and international to achieve one goal as a remarkable achievement.
The Director General of the Nigerian Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Kelechi Ohiri gave an update on the progress and challenges in health insurance coverage in the country. He emphasized that the progress toward the 20 million target which was originally set for four years, shows the strength of the NHIA, state health insurance schemes, and private health insurance providers.
One of the major achievements highlights he mentioned is the BHCPF, which now covers 2.6 million persons.
Speaking one the progress of the Nigerian health sector, Chair of Nigeria UHC Forum, Moji Makanjuola said the industry has witnessed growth from what it use to be.
“We have moved from a state of hopelessness to being extremely hopeful, she said.
“You would recall at the Joint Annual Review (JAR) meeting, a lot of improvement that have come to play were featured. Things have changed in terms of policy implementation, accountability and transparency in the system, the seriousness for which the health industry has been set up is gradually been met. Health is not tangible or something you can hold.
“States have signed into the SWaP and they know they are been watched.
She said there may be gaps in terms of health financing and facilities but, a lot is changing “and until everybody embrace this change, we might not have it in one basket”.
“There’s also the move to attain Universal Health Coverage (UHC), bridge the gap of human resources the country has lost as a result of the japa syndrome. We are not quite there but, hope has been renewed”, she concluded.