Primary Health: Nigeria to strengthen partnership with Traditional rulers to expand services

The Nigerian Government is strengthening partnership with the Traditional institutions to expand the services and delivery of Primary Heath Care to the citizens of the Country.

This was the resolution at the maiden quarterly review meeting between the National Primary Heath Care Development Agency and Nigeria’s Southwest Traditional Leaders Committee on Primary Heath Care Delivery.

Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, while addressing them said that the partnership with the Traditional institutions is key in the realization of Primary Heath Care access and Delivery to communities across the Southwest and Nigeria as a whole.

Dr. Ehanire noted that traditional rulers are pivotal to the promotion of health, hygiene, sanitation and advocacy to immunization.

“Our traditional institution is pivotal to whatever we do in all sectors, especially in health and government is conscious of that fact, it cannot effectively safeguard the health of the people without the support of our Royal fathers.”

Dr. Ehanire explained that, traditional rulers across the country have been very supportive of government initiatives in the health sector especially in mobilization, disease surveillance and reporting.

“Our achievement of a wild polio virus free status in 2020, would not have been possible without the support of traditional leaders across the country.”

Also, the Executive secretary National Primary Heath Care Development Agency, Dr Faisal Shu’aibu, said traditional rulers are the closest to the people, who play significant roles in the enlightenment of communities during the outbreak of diseases as well as acceptance of immunizations.

The chairman southwest Traditional Rulers Council and the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, believes that Primary Heath Care is the foundation of health in the society and called on the agency to do more in improving the Heath of the people of Southwest.

“We are so close to our people and we must do everything possible to help them.”