Nigeria’s National Assembly has called for the prioritisation of health security in the country on the template of Universal Health Coverage.
NASS also decried the high mortality indices in Nigeria, despite huge resources sunk into the health sector over the years by the government at all levels.
The Chairmen of the joint committee of both chambers on health who made the call at a media briefing in Abuja, said the issues have been put at the front burner of discourse at the 4th Annual Legislative Summit on Health, slated for next week in Abuja.
NASS however noted that Universal Health Coverage cannot be achieved through the exclusive National Health Insurance Scheme currently run by the federal government.
Specifically, the chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe in a speech at the briefing said actions by the legislature have become critically necessary in view of the worrisome statistics.
According to him, “This action by the legislature has become critically necessary as the country’s mortality indices have remained extremely high with minimal improvements, despite the magnitude of resources contributed to improve the statistics.
“For instance, the National Demographic Health Survey (2018) findings revealed that in the seven years preceding the survey, infant mortality rate was 67 deaths per 1,000 live births; under-5 mortality was 132 deaths per 1,000 live births; and Maternal mortality ratio, 512 deaths per 100,000 live births”.
According to him, in achieving that, the exclusive model of the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS being practiced must be made inclusive by expanding its scope beyond the 5% of the population it covers to an appreciable percentage of health care deliveries.
“Although the country is making attempts to take giant strides in its pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC); these efforts and whatever achievements have been recorded could be quickly eroded if health security is not prioritised.
“This is obvious in the effect of the currently ravaging COVID-19 pandemic and other disease outbreaks that have greatly impacted the health system negatively.
“The approaches to ensure that health security is prioritized and at the same time the country’s UHC pursuit is not hindered is the focus of our discussions at this year’s 4th Annual Legislative Summit on Health,” he declared.
The Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, Hon. Tanko Sununu said there is a need for amendment of the existing National Health Insurance Scheme Act for actualisation of the Universal Health Coverage and by extension, health security.
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