Abdulrahman Zakariyau
The World Health Organisation says more Nigerians are falling into poverty due to ill health.
WHO representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, who stated this at a retreat tagged ‘Navigating Health Leadership from Promise to Impact’, held for 36 States Commissioners of Health, in Abuja on Thursday disclosed that Nigeria has the highest out-of-pocket expenditure on health in West Africa.
He described the Commissioners’ position as unique in steering states towards the right direction in line with federal government policies and agenda despite the prevailing challenges based on state-specific contexts.
According to him, “With the ongoing increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases on the background of the high burden of communicable diseases, multiple outbreaks, and the highest out-of-pocket expenditure on health in the region, more Nigerians are falling into poverty due to ill health while many do not have access to the quality essential health services they need.”
Mulombo charged stakeholders to shift focus from mere concepts to actions with demonstrable results for greater resilience in the health sector, even in the face of emergencies.
“As leaders of the health sector and very close to the people, it is demanded of you now more than ever to keep PHC high on the agenda of your governments and ensure priority investment in its development, he added
In her remarks, the Deputy Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund, Nigeria, Rownak Khan called for effective collaboration and coordination at all levels for Nigeria to address her multiple health system challenges.
“So far, the signals coming from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and various health commissioners indicate that the new dispensation brings with it a unique opportunity for innovation and efficiency in responding to the many challenges facing the health sector,” she added.
On his part, the Former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, called on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to withhold young health workers until they serve the country for a few years.
The former Ekiti State Governor, who was the keynote speaker, stated “That will enable them to spend some time, a fixed period, not less than three, five years.
“Whilst you are doing that, your license is held by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, and once you’re done, you can decide whether you want to stay or you want to leave.”
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