Nigeria calls for stronger partnership with stakeholders on health system

The Nigerian government has called for a stronger partnership with stakeholders in the health sector for a better health care delivery in the country.

READ ALSO: Experts call for collaborative efforts for better healthcare

Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima made the call in Abuja, at a dinner in honour of the Special Adviser to president Bola Tinubu on Health, Dr. Salma-Anas Ibrahim organised by Southern Borno stakeholders forum.

Sen. Shetima urged Nigerians to trust and have confidence in Dr. Anna’s as they faced the challenges of leadership together.

He highlighted the government’s economic decisions and emphasised the importance of a culture of inclusiveness and forgiveness.

“Certainly Anas is one of our best, experience is not something you can buy in the marketplace, experience is something that you have to add and sometimes you will add a price, she was in Yemen which is one of the trouble spots in the world, she has garnered a wealth of experience and exposure in Egypt, in Somalia, so when I look at her rich CV. I feel compelled that this is the lady that should drive the process of change in the health sector in Borno and she did wonderfully well.

“Another opportunity came on board to contribute in service of our nation and to humanity, she won’t disappoint us, she is very committed, very honest, operate very anxious, very, very passionate about her job,” he said.

The Vice President said, “I want Nigerians to invest their trust and confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu compatibilities, things are stuff, things are bad, but we are not complaining.

“We campaign for the job, we went around the country, all the 36 states of the Federation, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, we campaign vigorously, and for me I even went the whole hog and assaulting people and so on, so we are ready, we are prepared to take the challenge of leadership, the withdrawal of fuel subsidy was a painful decision that the government had to take, it wasn’t deliberate, but in the fullness of time Nigerians will come to appreciate president Tinubu,” he added.

Sen. Shettima assures that the economy will pick up, a month after we assumed the mantle of leadership, what we had to distributed was 1.9 trillion naira. In order not to overheat the economy, we distributed 900 billion and kept 1 trillion in reserves, as the economy picks up.

“I am absolutely certain that in the next couple of months, nine prepared months, our economy would stabilize and all those speculating on our naira would pay a very heavy price in terms of lost because the naira will bounce back, the economy will bounce back and Nigerians will have every cost to celebrate,” he said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma-Anas, Ibrahim said this administration is passionate about the concerns of women and children.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very passionate about Nigerians health and upgraded me to be his special adviser, and my passion for improving access to quality Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Adolescent, and Elderly Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) services, including sexual and reproductive rights, as well as gender-based violence will continue,” she said.

She said that this government would be collaborating with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), to ensure the health of Nigerians.

“By leveraging the expertise and resources of the private sector it would improve access to basic healthcare services for Nigerians,” she added.

Dr. Salma explained that Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda aimed to achieve health for all through an efficient and effective universal health care coverage system, using the continuum model as contained in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In his goodwill message, the Coordinator, Africa Health Budget Network, (AHBN) Dr. Aminu Magashi said office of the health adviser to the President wad a new one and first of its kind so stakeholders need to help the office to succeed.

“It’s a paradigm shift in the country, the office is very key to health sector reform and also we need to improve our basic healthcare provision fund, we need to improve our health care agenda, we need to help the office function well,” she said.

Dr. Magashi said that there was a need for deeper coordination between health adviser with office of the national security adviser, biosafety agency, and overall health sector to improve health security agenda for the country.

“This administration should fully fund and support the implementation of national health security action plan, CSOs and media should step up advocacy and accountability to ensure transparency in the health sector,” she added.

The event organizers were lauded for bringing together individuals of different political affiliations and ethnic backgrounds in a display of unity.

The event concluded with the cutting of a celebratory cake and the presentation of an awards to Dr. Salama-Anas Ibrahim by the Southern Borno Stakeholders Forum, symbolizing the recognition of her outstanding contributions to society.

This event showcased the power of unity and celebrated the accomplishments of a distinguished individual who has made a significant impact on the nation and beyond.