Health reforms reduce infant mortality by 69%, says government

Ogun launches community insurance scheme

The Federal Government yesterday said health sector reform has achieved infant mortality reduction from 100 per 1000 live births in 2003 to 69 per 100 live births in 2013.”

Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, in Abeokuta at the launching of the Ogun State Community Health Insurance Scheme attributed it to a significant improvement in the health system.

Adewole, who spoke through the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Akingbade, added, “Under five mortality rate has shown a persistent decline from 201 per 1000 live births in 2003 to 128 per 1000 live births in 2013. We have also witnessed a significant reduction in maternal mortality, from 800 per 100,000 live births in 2003 to 576 per 100,000 live births in 2013.”

According to Adewole, “Our (Nigerians) Life Expectancy has also increased from 46.5 years in 2008 to 54.4 years in 2013”.

He said the establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was a major highpoint and output of the reform policy, saying it was an avenue to work towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in the country.

He explained that the health system reform was introduced “due to some factors that had prevented the system from performing efficiently and effectively.”

The factors, according to Adewole included budget constraints, inequitable distribution of health care resources at all levels, inequalities in healthcare access and high poverty levels in the country.”

Governor Ibikunle Amosun after presenting the registration cards to some beneficiaries appealed to the Federal Government to pay more attention to the primary healthcare delivery, saying that the majority of Nigerians are the people at the grassroots.

Amosun assured that his administration would ensure that before the year runs out, the National Health Insurance Scheme is extended to all the 20 local councils and the 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state.