• Govt promises access to quality health, UHC actualisation
World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on the Federal Government to ensure implementation of the five strategic objectives of the Global Strategy and Action plan on Ageing to improve health and socioeconomic outcomes for older persons in Nigeria.
The global agency noted that despite spare data on senior people, the most populous black nation is not spared of the alarming figures, housing about 14.8 million persons, aged 60 years and above.
It is projected that the number of older persons worldwide would more than double over the next three decades, reaching over 1.5 billion in 2050.
WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Mulombo, who made the disclosure, yesterday in Abuja, at the National Health Summit on Ageing in Nigeria, with the theme, “Decade of Healthy Ageing in Nigeria: Situation, Challenges and Transformative Pathway,” observed that globally, there were 703 million persons, aged 65 and above in 2019.
Besides Northern Africa and Asia, the second fastest increase, according to him, is projected for Sub-Saharan Africa, where that segment of the population could grow from 32 million in 2019 to 101 million in 2050.
Speaking further at the event, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mulombo stressed the need to promote effective actions, multi-sectoral partnerships and measures that prioritise healthy ageing in national and sub-national agenda towards attainment of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030).
He urged the government to increase investment in human capital development to strengthen partnerships and promote the UN project, by focusing on improved engagement with older people; understanding their needs; developing and strengthening health and long-term care in addition to fostering multi-sectoral action that aligns with the primary health care (PHC) system.
The WHO official submitted that several studies assessing Nigeria’s health system have canvassed strengthening of the sector at all levels for responsiveness to older people.
He said since the declaration of the agenda in 2021, WHO, alongside other experts, civil society organisations and health professionals, has continued to support the Nigerian government in discussing the five strategic objectives, while reviewing progress and challenges.
Mulombo advocated continued capacity-building; evidence-based guidance; support; knowledge exchange; data and innovation for better decision-making and coordination besides serving as a tool to provide feedback to health service delivery managers and communities in improving the lot of older persons through an integrated approach.
He maintained that coordination mechanisms should be strengthened to promote better outcomes through healthy life expectancy; age-friendly cities and communities, as well as a reduced number of older people, who are care-dependent.
Effective integrated community-based approaches (ICOPE) are critical to improving the lives of older persons in Nigeria, Mulombo added.
ALSO speaking, Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Dalma Anas Ibrahim, reiterated the determination of the President Bola Tinubu administration to actualise Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensure equal access to quality health care by all, including the elderly.
She stated that the renewed hope health agenda of the current administration is committed to covering over 50 million Nigerians, including the vulnerable and elderly, with health insurance within the next four years.
