The Nigerian ministry of health and its agencies have presented its 2020 scorecard to the public.
The scorecard was presented at the Ministerial Health Sector media Engagement, in Abuja.
It captured the successes, challenges, and achievements made by the ministry and it parastatals.
In his keynote address, the Nigerian ministry of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said that the COVID-19 pandemic brought attention to the Health Systems of all countries like never before.
He said that respected and otherwise resilient systems have been nearly brought to their knees by the sheer volume of patients they had to cater to, and some have had to face embarrassing scarcity of simple items like face masks or sanitizers.
“All countries will no doubt be re-examining their Health systems which is why it has been said that the COVID-19 outbreak offers an opportunity to restructure, or even rebuild health systems. Nigeria’s health system has not fared so badly so far in the global covid19 outbreak, but we nonetheless have good reason to also examine our not-so-strong Health system, which is why we are here gathered today with Stakeholders, Partners, Donors, Civil Society, Academia, well-wishers and the media. We shall share with you a brief look at our Health system, it’s structures organizations and functions, as well as plans and aspirations, while the component organs of the Ministry of Health, our Departments and Agencies will, have time to briefly relate their experiences and also share the plans and aspirations of the Ministry of Health, as it concerns their sectors and as enshrined in the National Strategy Health Development Plan 2,” Dr. Ehanire said.
He also said that “the Federal Ministry of Health is the key Ministry of the Federal Government of Nigeria, playing an important role in President Buhari’s Next Level Agenda for human capital development for socio-economic growth. Our Ministry is responsible for the National Health system and its performance and provides strategic support to States, Local Government Areas, the private sector and Development Partners. It coordinates development of required Human Resources for Health and the infrastructure needed”.
The minister also noted that the Ministry is guided by the President’s “Health Sector Next Level Agenda” of 2019, a nine point, medium-term plan, to ramp up the push towards Universal Health Coverage.
“The Agenda has the following:
- implementation of Mandatory Universal Health Insurance in collaboration with State governments and the FCT Administration.
- operationalisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in collaboration with partners and agencies
iii. recruitment and deployment of 50,000 Community Health Extension Workers.
- revamping Federal Teaching Hospitals across the country;
- collaboration with Private Sector Investors to establish high-quality hospitals in Nigeria.
- reduction of gaps in all health-related SDGs by at least 60%.
vii. reduction in the current imbalance between primary, secondary, and tertiary health care.
viii. active collaboration with the private sector to create a large number of well-paying jobs for Nigerian youths; and
- contribution to the realisation of Mr. President’s June 12 promise to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years”. He said
Dr. Ehanire also stressed that despite disruption by the covid19 pandemic, progress has been made on all points.
“Covid19 itself emphasised the need and provided an opportunity to strengthen our health System and assure better coordination among the component institutions and along all tiers of government, as well as chances to improve synergy with partners, Civil Society Organizations and other stakeholders,” he noted.
He added that the ministry is focusing on Systems Strengthening of the National Primary Health care, actualisation of the Basic Healthcare Provision and implementation of health policies in Nigeria.
Heads of agencies in the ministry also took turns to give accounts of their stewardship in 2020.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman Senate committee on health, Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe, promised to use his office to make sure that budget allocation to the health sector is increased and fully released.
On their part, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF congratulated Nigeria and pledged more collaboration.
Speaking on behalf of Civil Societies, Prof. Ladipo Oladapo of the National Advocates for Health, called for more funding for family planning services for both males and females in Nigeria.
“We need to fast track the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to ensure quality healthcare in Primary Healthcare Centres. We must not forget the Abuja Declaration,“ Prof Oladapo said.
The Revised Implementation Guidelines for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund was also unveiled at the Ministerial Health Sector Media Engagement.
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