FG pledges to prioritise vulnerable citizens in healthcare delivery

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Health, Dr. Salma Ibrahim Anas, has emphasised the importance of supporting vulnerable populations in Nigeria to enable them to access health through targeted health promotion initiatives.

Anas disclosed this in Abuja at the conference commemorating Health Promotion Division (HPD) Day, highlighting the need to develop strategies that address the financial challenges faced by those who struggle to afford cost-effective care.

According to her, “the strategies should target those who cannot afford to pay for care in the hospital due to the high cost of drugs and some other financial constraint or barriers to accessing care.”

Anas was represented by Dr. Ogwe, who said: “The real target for this health promotion will be those who cannot afford to pay for cost-effective care when they fall ill. So the strategy will be, how do we reach those who are in the majority and who cannot afford to pay for the care.

“And if you want to achieve maximum success, and result is to develop strategies that will target those who cannot afford to pay for care in the hospital due to the high cost of drugs and some other financial constraint or barriers to accessing care.”

In his address, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, praised President Tinubu for recognising that Nigerians are valuable assets.

He stressed the importance of preventive health measures and urged citizens to be proactive about their health by regularly checking vital statistics like blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol levels.

He said, “So this day is to celebrate health promotion to produce a stock of health for all Nigerians. Because even if you are healthy today, there are steps that you can take to promote your health and preserve your health, because by the time you get sick, Its probably too late and costly for you.

“It’s costly for your family constantly for the government to treat you. And for us in the ministry, we want to be the Ministry of Health. Not the Ministry of sickness or Ministry of disease.

“And because of that, a healthy machine is a certain important element for Nigerians, and is why we have picked this day to educate Nigerians to be aware. That there are things that we can do.”

In his remarks, the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Ejike Oji, reiterated the urgent need for effective health promotion strategies, citing challenges from the national Demographic Health Survey that indicate high rates of preventable diseases, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases.

Oji emphasised that the financial burden of healthcare costs on families and the healthcare system further underscores the necessity for preventive approaches.

He said, “The burden of health care costs on families and the health care system underscores the need for preventive approaches. And that will reduce disease prevalence and improve well-being.

“Nigeria is still one of the countries that have the highest out-of-pocket expenditure. And then if we take preventive approaches, it will bring it down very, very well.”