Health Commissioners from Nigeria’s 36 states have urged the government to increase budget allocations for the health sector at all levels.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, this call was made at the conclusion of a two-day summit in Abuja, where the commissioners discussed strategies to strengthen Primary Health Care systems across the country.
The Chairperson of the Nigeria Health Commissioners’ Forum and Ekiti State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, emphasized the importance of enhanced funding.
He praised President Bola Tinubu for approving the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration and acknowledged the president’s investment in the healthcare sector.
The commissioners expressed concern over the shortage of healthcare professionals, as highlighted in a recent assessment by the Nigeria Health Commissioners’ Forum.
They stressed the need for innovative approaches to attract, train, and retain skilled workers in the health sector.
A significant portion of the discussions also focused on the recent Supreme Court ruling on Local Government Financial Autonomy and its implications for PHC financing.
The commissioners committed to strengthening PHCs as the foundation of Nigeria’s healthcare system. They announced the formation of a sub-committee tasked with developing a position paper on the Supreme Court’s ruling, which will be prepared in consultation with the Nigerian Governors Forum and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
In response to recent outbreaks of cholera, diphtheria, and mpox, the commissioners reviewed their states’ preparedness and response measures.
Dr. Filani praised the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for its leadership and called for ongoing support to bolster state-level readiness.
He revealed that monthly meetings will be held between State Health Commissioners and the NCDC’s Director-General to enhance coordination and preparedness.
The summit also addressed the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and renal diseases.
The commissioners resolved to prioritize NCDs in their state health agendas and announced plans to launch a comprehensive awareness campaign,
“Know your Number, Control your Number,” scheduled for the last quarter of 2024.
Dr. Filani reaffirmed the commissioners’ commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage and commended recent efforts by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to promote a Sector-Wide Approach to healthcare delivery.
He also expressed support for the Ministry’s emerging digital health initiative, which aims to revolutionize healthcare through data-driven decision-making.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Filani praised the leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate, and the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for their dedication to advancing digital health solutions. He called on all stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, to collaborate in building a healthier and more prosperous Nigeria.
