Sokoto, 11 March 2016 -- Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole has urged delegates to the 58th session of the National Council on Health (NCH) with the theme, ‘Universal Health Coverage (UCH): An Agenda for Change’ to embrace the country’s obligation towards fruition of UCH as key health sector goal of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Professor Adewole was speaking while delivering the keynote address in Sokoto on 10 March, 2016 during the opening ceremony of the NCH which represents the highest decision-making assembly of the health sector in the country. The Council meets annually to review the sector performance, identify challenges and proffer corrective action.

He decried that in the last decade, results of surveys have shown monumental decay in service delivery despite the enormous investments by government. This negative fallout according to him resulted into poor health outcomes and catastrophic economic burdens on the Nigerian taxpayers.

“We shall restore the Health system pyramid with primary healthcare (PHC) as the foundation. We plan to build one PHC per political ward across the states. This will translate to about 10,000 PHCs and provision of quality affordable and accessible healthcare to 100 million Nigerians” the Minister revealed.

At the heart of the ‘change agenda’ is a focus on making available resources required for efficient service delivery. This approach will increase access to health care services, reduce risks of Nigerians falling into financial catastrophe and ensure citizens’ satisfaction with health services increased” Professor Adewole added.

While the Nigerian government is already taking substantial initiatives to implement programmes for attaining UHC and build technical capacity, the country has greater potential for health development.

The Minister further noted that the theme of the 58th session of the NCH is germane to the current situation in Nigeria and urged experts in health to carefully chart the way forward “and fast-tract the achievement of UHC in Nigeria” and come up with clear recommendations to improve access to healthcare at all levels of society during the deliberations.

In his goodwill message, Dr Rui Gama Vaz, the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative stated that “Nigeria’s antecedents in achieving milestones such as eradication of  Guinea worm, interrupting polio virus transmission for more than 19 months, containing the Ebola virus outbreak and recently curtailing the Lassa fever and cholera outbreaks in the security compromised north eastern states despite high levels poverty and insecurity, means it can adopt a policy towards attaining UHC”.

However, “Nigeria also needs to intensify measures to monitor the implementation of the resolutions and policies of the 58th meeting of the NCH”. WHO will continue to provide required technical support to effectively implement government policies”, Dr Vaz added.

The NHC was preceded by a 3-day technical session which featured presentations on the sub themes: Sustainable Financing for Health; Operationalizing the National Health Act 2014; Health: An Instrument of Economic Empowerment and inter-sectoral Corporation for Health.

Some of the key outcomes expected from the NHC include achievement of the highest political commitment towards the ‘change vision’ for the health sector, providing a platform for mass mobilization of Nigerians and increase funding for health, access to financial risk protection schemes as well as efficient use of available funds.

Over 180 delegates, including 36 Commissioners of Health, former ministers, representatives of donor agencies and members of the academia, are participating in the week-long event.

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Technical contacts:

Dr Teniin Gakurur: +234 803 979 5149; Email: gakuruht [at] who.int  

Media contact:

Ms  Charity Warigon; Tel: +234 810 221 0093; Email: warigonc [at] who.int
Below:

01 Honourable Minister of Health (right) and His Excellency, Governor of Sokoto State

02 The Minister and Governor  with other dignitaries in a group photo