Coordinating Minister, Federal Ministry of
Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali
Pate has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has approved the
adoption, design and implementation of a domesticated, context-sensitive
sector-wide approach as an innovative, holistic, and coordinated strategy for
the improvement of health outcomes.
The Minister made the announcement at the opening
ceremony of the ongoing 64th National Council on Health with Theme:
‘Building a Resilient and Inclusive Healthcare System for a Healthy Nigeria’ holding
from 13th – 17th November, 2023 in Ado Ekiti Ekiti State.
“We are redesigning the Basic Health Care
Provision Fund (BHCPF), established by NHA 2014, to become more effective and
efficient in driving the strategic
shifts and priority initiatives that will see us moving towards accomplishing
our ambitious but achievable goals and objectives.” The Minister stated.
He reiterated the efforts of the Federal
Government to put in place the necessary structure and framework to effectively
and efficiently coordinate programmes to address the wider determinants of
health since it is realized that a lot of the determinants of health are
outside the direct control of the Health Sector.
According to him, the Sub-Themes were carefully chosen in
alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda to: “Highlight the priorities of the
sector; encourage us to take stock of our journey, putting into consideration
the reality of the times; and remind us of our ultimate goal of achieving a
system that ensures that all people have access to needed health services
(including prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation) of
sufficient quality to be effective while also ensuring that the use of these
services does not expose the user the financial hardship.”
He opined that health of the people is a fundamental human
right. “It is a measure of our commitment to equity, justice, and the dignity
of every individual. Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is not a choice;
it is an obligation, a promise to provide quality healthcare to all regardless
of their socio-economic status. It is the embodiment of our vision for a
healthier and more prosperous nation and a strategic advantage for us as a
nation.”
Addressing some of the health issues, Pate
said that the Ministry has embarked on a ‘diagnosis to action’ system-wide
initiative, taking briefs from all levels and consulting with all relevant
stakeholders to achieving Universal Health Coverage adding that this has led to
a 4-point blueprint with cross-cutting enablers: Effective governance; Efficient, equitable and quality health
systems; Unlocking value chains and Health security.
The Minister said that the Ministry remains at the forefront, to
continue to maintain stability in our health sector and meet the health needs
of our growing population and to collectively
change our narratives and foster the progress which we desire, he
admonished.
Declaring the
64th NCH open, Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji recognised
that evidence-based research and development are the foundation of progress in
every sector including healthcare, adding that through research, “we can
generate data to guide decision-making and enhance our understanding of health
challenges.”
Earlier in his remarks, Minister of State, Dr. Tunde
Alausa stated that “ we must take a pragmatic approach on the way we want to
respond to our current problems with Himan Resource for health; explaining that
“while it may be difficult to prevent the migration of individuals for greener
pastures, we can respond by increase pool of health workers that we graduate
from our institutions on annual basis.”
He added
that this will reverse the negative impact of the ‘Japa Syndrome’
that we are currently witnessing.
In his
goodwill message, Dr. Walter Kazadi
Mulombo, World Health Organisation (WHO)
representative in Nigeria stated his expectations for NCH to leverage on the
strengths and opportunities on each tier of government to come up with
feasible, less complex and sustainable
strategies that will work for the Federal and State Governments in overcoming
challenges under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Program reiterating the commitment of WHO
towards providing technical support as a member State Organisation towards the
healthcare needs of the country.
Deworitshe
Patricia
Director,
Press & Public Relations
16th
November, 2023.
