Health Commissioners from Nigeria’s 36 states have urged an increase in budget allocation for healthcare across all levels of government in the Federation.
While affirming their dedication to strengthening the Primary Health Care (PHC) systems nationwide, they stressed the necessity for greater government funding.
The commissioners, along with the Mandate Secretary of Health for the Federal Capital Territory, also voiced their support for the Federal Government’s workforce migration policy.
Chairperson of the Nigeria Health Commissioners’ Forum and Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, disclosed this to the press following a two-day summit on Friday in Abuja.
“Health financing was a key issue on our agenda. We are advocating for increased budget allocations for health at all levels of government,” Filani stated.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration and for his significant investments in the healthcare sector.
Acknowledging the severe shortage of healthcare professionals, as highlighted in a recent NHCF assessment, Filani emphasized the urgent need for innovative strategies to attract, train, and retain skilled workers in Nigeria’s health sector.
A substantial portion of the discussions focused on the recent Supreme Court ruling on Local Government Financial Autonomy and its impact on Primary Healthcare in Nigeria.
The commissioners reiterated their commitment to strengthening PHCs as the cornerstone of the nation’s healthcare system.
Filani highlighted the importance of ensuring adequate staffing, training, and the availability of essential medicines and equipment at the grassroots level.
“A sub-committee has been established to develop a position paper on the implications of the Supreme Court judgment for PHC financing. This paper will be prepared in collaboration with the Nigerian Governors Forum and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare,” he stated.
In response to recent outbreaks of cholera, diphtheria, and mpox, the commissioners reviewed preparedness and response measures in their respective states.
He praised the leadership of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and urged continued support for states to strengthen preparedness and response efforts.
“It was agreed that monthly meetings would be held between State Health Commissioners and the Director-General of the NCDC to enhance coordination and readiness,” he said.
Filani also expressed concern over the increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and renal diseases.
“We resolved to prioritize NCDs in our state health agendas and committed to launching a comprehensive awareness campaign titled ‘Know your Number, Control your Number,’ scheduled for the last quarter of 2024,” he added.
He pledged that the commissioners would work towards achieving Universal Health Coverage and praised the recent efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in advancing the Sector-Wide Approach to healthcare delivery.
The commissioners expressed their support for the Ministry’s emerging digital health initiative, aimed at revolutionizing healthcare delivery through data-driven decision-making.
Filani also commended 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 efforts in promoting digital health solutions.
He reaffirmed the commissioners’ commitment to improving health outcomes across the country and called on all stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, to collaborate in building a healthier and more prosperous nation.
(NAN)
