The Nigerian Government says despite the challenges identified to affect the health indices of its citizens, it is working towards surmounting them.
The Nigerian Minister of state for Health, Dr. Adeleke Mamora, gave the assurance at the 44/45th Annual General and Scientific Conference of the West African College of Physicians holding in Abuja.
He said that some of the challenges in the health system that contributed to the poor health indices include: inadequate human resources for health, non optimal supply chain management, brain drain, unskilled man power, poor data management of rural skills workers, Covid-19 pandemic, amongst others.
“Some of the steps to address these challenges include but not limited to increased investment in terms of political will and leadership, provision of adequate funding, collaborations with professional bodies, partners and other stakeholders as well as adherence to the next level health sector agenda 2019/2023 of the president Muhammadu Buhari administration”, Dr. Mamora said.
He said that the Federal Ministry of Health is poised to deliver the nine key deliverables of the agenda for the benefit of Nigerians.
He assured the conference that the government through the ministry of health will continue to provide the necessary leadership role as the hope of policy formulation, setting of standard, monitoring and evaluation of the health sector as well as ensuring quality service provision for all citizens.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Musa Bello, said that social consequences of poor health indices include severe economic loss and limited production.
He said that it was reassuring that the West Africa College of Physicians decided to focus its conference on the Nigerian health indices.
Effective legislation
The Speaker of the House of Representative, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, said that the National Assembly would help in addressing the health challenges in Nigeria through effective legislation.
“As it is now in the House, in the next few days to come, we are also going to consider the amendment of the National Health Act which provides the basic framework upon which health care policy in the country is developed”, he said.
He also commended the scientists for coming together to address Nigerian health issues.
President of the West Africa College of Physicians, Prof Afolabi Lesi, commended the Nigerian chapter of the college and appreciates its efforts at upholding the ideal of the college.
He said that it recognises the pivotal role the chapter plays in furthering aims and objectives of the college.
“These are extraordinary times and the college has been adapting to the odious conditions imposed by Covid-19 pandemic”, Lesi said.
The National Chairman and Vice President, Nigerian chapter of the association, Prof Aboi Jeremiah Madaki, said that promotion of professional training of physicians in the West African region, promotion of standard professional practice, ethics and moral of physicians, promoting health and healthcare in the region, determination of persons to be designated as Specialist Physicians, giving their training and cooperating with appropriate bodies that provide facilities to achieving objectives have been the goal.
He said that the health indices of Nigerians is really poor and needed urgent attention, hence, the theme “Nigeria health indices: Challenges and Prospects in a contemporary World” was carefully crafted and chosen.
He said that the college would work with Nigeria to solve its health issues.
Nneka Ukachukwu
