Nigerians set agenda for health sector
07 January 2025 |
3:33 am
With the dawn of a new year, Nigerians from different parts of the country are expressing high hopes for a better-performing health sector. In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria
With the dawn of a new year, Nigerians from different parts of the country are expressing high hopes for a better-performing health sector. In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday, they called for transformative reforms to address systemic challenges, improve healthcare access and ensure equitable services for all. One recurring demand in their submissions is for the government to allocate more funds to the sector in the budget.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria’s health expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) remains below the recommended standard.
The respondents urged the federal and state governments to prioritise investments in healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Bashir Adamu, a community leader in Kaduna, said many of the state’s health facilities were dilapidated, lacking essential equipment and medicaments. Adamu called for functional hospitals and well-equipped primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in every local council.
Stakeholders also advocate improved access to affordable healthcare services, as rising out-of-pocket expenditures continue to burden households, especially the poor.
The stakeholders called for an expansion of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and the adoption of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) policies.A schoolteacher in Enugu State, Mrs Joy Nwankwo, was of the view that healthcare should not be a luxury item for the rich.
“The government must make health insurance accessible and affordable for everyone, including informal workers,” she said. With Nigeria bearing one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, women groups and advocacy organisations called for immediate action to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
A midwife in Maiduguri, Mrs Fatima Usman, said there was a need to ensure that every pregnant woman had access to quality ante-natal care and safe delivery services.
No woman, according to Usman, should die giving life.The exodus of healthcare workers from the country is another issue of concern. Many Nigerians hope that the government will address this brain drain by improving the welfare and working conditions of health professionals.
“Better salaries, continuous training and incentives will encourage our doctors and nurses to stay and serve their communities,” said Dr Olu Balogun, a public health physician in Lagos.
The recent monkeypox (mpox) outbreak and the lingering threat of diseases like cholera, Lassa fever and malaria heightened the call for a stronger public health response.
Public health experts urged the government to strengthen disease surveillance systems, improve vaccination coverage, and ensure rapid responses to emergencies.
Ngozi Okafor, a parent in Abuja, urged the government to invest in public health preparedness and ensure that every child gets vaccinated.
Citizens are optimistic that the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, under Prof Muhammed Pate, will bring the much-needed transformation.
However, they stressed the need for transparency and accountability in implementing health sector policies and programmes. According to a civil society activist, Adebola Taiwo, the country has capable leaders, but they must ensure that allocated funds are used judiciously to the benefit of the average Nigerian.
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