By Joy Odor
The Coordinating Minister for Health & Social Welfare Prof. Muhammadu Ali Pate has affirmed to improve population health outcomes and, ensuring financial protection to the poorest and vulnerable in the country as a focal point for implementation by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration.
Prof. Pate stated at the opening ceremony of the 65th National Council of Health (NCH) in Maiduguri, Borno State with the Theme: “Accelerating Pathways To Universal Health Coverage: Strategies For 2030 Success”.
According to him, tied to the mission of the present administration is maintaining industrial peace and harmony in a critical sector as Health.
While reeling out the achievements in the health sector under the National Health Renewal Investment Initiative, the Coordinating Minister emphasized that the Ministry has responded to citizens needs, understanding their perceptions, perspectives and reporting back to them.
He explained that under the first pillar of governance, the Ministry has mobilised and repositioned regulatory bodies at the Federal level.
Prof Pate revealed that efforts by the Federal Government to make affordability to healthcare by women with obstetric fistula complications is yielding positive results coupled with reducing maternal mortality in the country.
Emphasizing the collaboration between the Federal and States for achieving and improving population health outcomes, Prof. Pate informed that more than 8,000 primary health care centres in Nigeria had benefitted from the N46 billion released by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF).
The Minister maintained that this is a testament of the partnership and collaborative efforts of training more than 43,000 frontline health workers out of the targets of 120,000 that was set, which is still ongoing.
“The National Food Drug & Administration Control NAFDAC, he stressed, is a strong regulator that maintains the safety and efficacy of health products and distribution systems.
“We have expanded the medical relief program to provide targeted support to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable access products when they need them.
“The revitalisation of primary health care has been underway, and more will be revitalised. I think we have visibility to almost 4,000 in collaboration with the states”, the Coordinating Minister added.
“On the affordability side, through the National Health Insurance Authority NHIA, the obstetric complication of Vesico Vaginal Fistula, we’ve had more than 1,000 women already being prepared for their obstetric fistula complications free of charge since that initiative was announced. In addition, in an effort to reduce the maternal mortality, we know that at least 30 primary health care centres, secondary facilities are able to offer similar services. These services are being provided by the NHIA and, more will be provided.
“By the end of the year, we’ll have less than 100, and they would have reimbursement for NHIA to offer these free services for emergencies for women when they face obstetric complications, including cesarean sections”, Prof. Pate explained.
Speaking on the importance of maintaining industrial harmony in the health sector, the Coordinating Minister appealed to the various professional groups to place the people at the centre of attention, stressing, the issues that they have are being resolved by this administration front-end.
While declaring the 65th National Council on Health open, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, asserted that Borno State is deeply committed to realising the goals outlined in the Abuja Declaration, which.
65th National Council on Health attracted Commissioners of health from the 36 states, Top Management Staff of the Ministry, Development Partners and Civil Society organisations.
