The National Economic Council has hailed the introduction of a health sector renewal programme for Nigeria, introduced by the current Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammadu Ali-Pate.
Briefing Journalists, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed said the programme is a robust one that can change the tide of the nation’s healthcare delivery.
He said: “the Council received a presentation from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare on Nigeria’s health sector renewal programme, which looked and dissected in terms of very robust sector scan on health from the tertiary to the primary level, looking at all the gaps and challenges of funding and even the need for renewed interest by stakeholders mostly Governors at the sub-national level, experts, doctors and everybody.”
The Governor added that the health sector reform programme has also identified the need for more funding as well as strategies to be adopted in tackling the challenges confronting the health sector in Nigeria.
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“The Financing gaps have been looked into and the dismal numbers have shown as if we are drifting as a nation because some of the numbers there are very negative; in terms of infant mortality, compared to other nations that are even less developed than Nigeria,” Mohammed added.
He however said all hopes are not lost because the current government is moving in the right direction by introducing a Renewed Hope agenda.
“The Renewed Hope agenda that the present administration is trying to establish, is bringing synergy and collaboration between the various stakeholders in the country, trying to ensure that a compact is established in the manner that will be able to generate resources,” he stated.
The Bauchi State Governor said suggestions were made on the need to use taxes from communication and airlines to shore-up the funding gap in the health sector.
He also said the Council observed with dismay the shortage of human capital in the health sector thus, advised qualified health personnel to desist from travelling abroad in search of jobs but rather stay back to help improve the healthcare delivery system in the country.
