According to the Federal Government, it is working to ensure that healthcare workers who have left the country in search of better opportunities return to contribute to the healthMakinde plans compromise of Afenifere’s waiting question fifth July 2023 sector’s growth.
On Tuesday, at the joint World Health Organization stakeholders’ feedback workshop on the evaluation of the third WHO-Nigeria country cooperation strategy (2018-2022) and development of the fourth WHO-Nigeria cooperation strategy (2023-2027), the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas-Ibrahim, made this known.
According to Dr. Anas-Ibrahim, the primary goal of the current administration led by President Bola Tinubu is to achieve health for all programs through an efficient and effective Universal Health Coverage system employing the continuum of care model, where no one is left behind, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goals.
She claims that President Tinubu’s agenda for the health sector is titled “Healthcare: An issue of right and desperation” of the APC’s ‘Recharged Trust’ mantra has an activity plan for a superior Nigeria.
She stated that the current national health plan would be incorporated into the healthcare reforms policy agenda in order to improve Nigerians’ health by investing in governance and leadership, health financing, human resources, equitable, secure, and high-quality service delivery, primary healthcare, secondary and tertiary care facilities, preventive care services, public health emergency preparedness and response, and increased partnership with non-governmental organizations.
“This government will address the country’s health care issues, such as a lack of health infrastructure, fragmentation, overworked workforce, inadequate insurance coverage, high maternal mortality, inadequate preventative care, and reliance on imported medicines, goods, equipment, and vaccines.”
“The health sector will have a governance and leadership structure that makes it more responsive and accountable, and it will have mechanisms for proper coordination and alignment across all levels of care that have commitment from both political and institutional sources. She stated, “In the first two years of the administration, there will be health financing through increased budgetary allocations to high-impact health interventions and national health insurance coverage for at least 40% of the population, which would be augmented with the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund and Vulnerable Group Fund.”
Anas-Ibrahim went on to say, “We are all aware that Nigeria is currently affected by the brain drain. However, even before the brain drain, our human resources were grossly inadequate, and we are not yet there.” As a result, we will make an effort to ensure that we address issues and build the capacity of our training institutions, both public and private, to take more action and take advantage of all opportunities that will ensure that we have sustainable human resources for health at all levels of our healthcare, especially at the primary health care level in our communities. Numerous issues are being addressed, including the need for immediate one-for-one replacements for those who have left and the retention of motivated, vibrant health workers, as well as the ability of those who wish to return to contribute to the development of the health sector.
In addition, the WHO Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo, stated that the CCS review is remarkable because it occurs during a political transition in the country, providing an opportunity for policy change and transformation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, primary healthcare reimagining program, National Health Insurance Authority Act, and Presidential Health Reform Program.
“We have engaged with your good selves over the past few months, trying to understand what we have done well, the areas we have not done well, and pointers to the priorities in the coming five years,” Mulombo stated. “As the development of a new CCS typically follows a robust consultative process.”
“The need for WHO to adopt a stronger coordination role as the leading authority in health in support of the country and other partners is one key recurring challenge thrown at WHO during this ongoing review.”
According to their findings, the number of doctors with training in Nigeria has increased to 11,478, and the number of nurses and midwives with training in Nigeria is at least 10,639.
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