Focus on opportunities recession offers, United States charges government

National Assembly to get 2017 budget next month.

The huge challenges notwithstanding, the Federal Government has been enjoined to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the prevailing economic recession.

In another development, the presidency is to present 2017 budget estimates to the National Assembly next month.

To this end, circulars had been issued to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to conform to the timeline.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, who spoke yesterday at an emergency National Council on Health in Abuja, confirmed the development.

The disclosure is coming as the federal and state governments adopted the new National Health Policy 2016 and implementation framework for the National Health Act.

He said the policy would ensure that Nigeria was well positioned for the sustainable development era.

Director of Health, Population and Nutrition at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Nancy Lowenthal, who gave the charge at the event, also called for the strict implementation of the nation’s health act.

Her words: “Nigeria’s economic recession is difficult, challenging states to improve the health of the nation with fewer resources. But with challenges come opportunities. Your work at this meeting is one of such opportunity by adopting your National Health Policy and Act. These policies drive prioritisation to put the most critical health issues first, ensuring the health of pregnant women and children are met to reduce the high rates of morbidity and mortality. Nigeria sadly has the distinction of having the second highest burden of maternal and child health deaths.”