Health
FG to launch 10 year strategy programme to transform PHCs in Nigeria
Federal Government says it is set to unveil a 10 year strategy programme that will drastically transform and improve primary health care services in the country.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said the programme will be officially launched at the Primary Health Care Summit to be held on March 24 and 25 in Abuja.
The programme tagged ‘Re-imagining PHC’ is hinged on a 4 point agenda namely; access and service delivery of PHC revitalization; health promotion and demand stimulation; programme delivery; and ensuring the right enablers and capabilities in place to support the delivery.
Dr Ehanire said the aim of the summit is to obtain commitment of government and stakeholders towards the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals SDGs, Universal Health Coverage (UHCs) and national health security by 2030 and also secure alignment and commitment to the strategy to transform PHCs across the country.
The 4 point agenda when implemented according to Dr Ehanire, will address about 70% of disease burden in the country.
The Minister also said administering quality healthcare to people in rural areas will assist in reducing pressure on secondary and tertiary levels of care so that they can focus on other health challenges and research.
He said through ‘Re-imagining PHC’, Nigeria will build on its national experience in fighting COVID-19- Ebola, Polio, and many other health challenges to implement long-overdue changes that will transform the way health care is delivered in the country.
“Most citizens in poor and rural areas, with very modest health needs, will not have the resources to pursue healthcare in the big cities. For them, large, fancy, glamorous hospitals in the far-away capital city, is unreachable.
“And that is why we eagerly look forward to our stakeholders from other sectors to join us in making our people healthier by supporting our 70% rural dwellers with modest health centres.
“Studies have shown that a functional PHC System, with strong programs for Health education, disease prevention and health promotion and within easy reach of communities, takes care of 70% of the nation’s disease burden. Taking care of 70% of the health needs increases the nation’s productivity and GDP.
“High disease burden and frequent outbreak are the result of our weak PHC system, which reduces access to healthcare and not only causes our current high out of pocket expenditure on health care of about 70%, but is responsible for needlessly high maternal and child mortality, debility, absenteeism from work and much suffering.
“I know that we all greatly value health care, but for too long, we have instinctively misunderstood healthcare to be synonymous with large, glitzy buildings in the capital city. These well-intentioned hospitals are not on a foundation of a strong health system because the Primary and Secondary level they rest on are very weak.
“We already have a good number of large hospitals like the Teaching Hospitals, Federal Medical Centres and several Private Hospitals in major cities; they do not address the most pressing health needs of majority of the people in rural areas.
” At this state of our development first priority needs to revert to simple Basic Healthcare Provision, which we need stakeholders to align with to Kick-start implementation of our 4-point Agenda for PHC revitalization” he added.
Also Speaking, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib said the transformative programme is focused on primary health care, because it is the backbone of the country’s entire health system.
The NPHCDA Executive Director noted lack of quality primary health care services in Nigeria contributes to the staggering impact of COVID-19 on the country’s population and the high rate of maternal mortality
.
“128 of every 1,000 children under 5 in Nigeria die and 20% of global maternal deaths happen in Nigeria” he said.
He also said that the Nigerian government would invest in building up the failing primary health care system so that health centres could treat infectious and chronic illnesses.
In a bid to enhance medical care for Nigerians, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed six new Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) for Federal Hospitals across the country.
Among those appointed is Dr. Ikrama Hassan, who will now serve as the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State. Dr. Hassan, a seasoned consultant physician, previously served as the Medical Director of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital before its elevation to a teaching hospital.
The full list of newly appointed CMDs includes:
Prof. Olusegun Sylvester Ojo – Federal Teaching Hospital, Akure, Ondo State.
Prof. Yusuf Mohammed Abdullahi (Reappointed) – Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.
Dr. Dauda Abubakar Katagum – Federal Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi State.
Dr. Ikrama Hassan – Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Dr. Ali Mohammed Ramat – National Orthopedic Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State.
Dr. Haruna Abubakar Shehu – Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
Each appointment is for a four-year term, effective from the date of assumption of duty.
President Tinubu congratulated the appointees, urging them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service delivery. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving medical infrastructure and ensuring quality healthcare access for all Nigerians.
Senator representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, Garba Maidoki has called for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre to be situated in Zuru to cater for the health needs of the District and its environs.
The lawmaker in the 10th National Assembly made the call during a public hearing on the Bill to establish Federal Medical Centre in Zuru organized by the Senate Committee on Health.
In a memorandum presented at the hearing by the lawmaker, he explained that the aim is to provide tertiary healthcare facilities to the people of Zuru in Kebbi State in the North West Nigeria.
He further noted that the establishment of FMCs across the country was initiated by Decree No. 10 of 1985, with the aim of providing tertiary healthcare services.
According to him, the FMC Birnin Kebbi was established on June 6, 2000, and has since been upgraded to a University Teaching Hospital.
The lawmaker stated that the large population and the challenges faced in accessing healthcare services, necessitates the establishment of FMC in the state.
“In Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, the distance between Zuru Emirate and Birnin Kebbi is approximately 240 km, making it difficult for patients, especially children and pregnant women, to access secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities”, he lamented.
Senator Maidoki charged his colleagues and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to support the bill, saying healthcare is a fundamental privilege expected from any government.
The lawmaker who is the sponsor of the bill told journalists during a chat that the Federal Medical Center, when established will not only cater for the tertiary healthcare needs of Kebbi State, but will also serve the adjoining states like Niger and Zamfara.
The Kogi State is set to receive enhanced funding of 500 million dollars from the World Bank to improve access to high quality basic education and Primary Healthcare Services in the state.
The Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Honourable Asiwaju Idris disclosed this at a Citizens’ Sensitization Programme held at the Government House in Lokoja on Thursday.
He noted that the World Bank assisted Programme under the HOPE-GOV initiative will avail the state of over 500 million dollars in enhanced funding to strengthen basic education and Primary healthcare services in the state.
He added that Education and Healthcare are the pillars upon which a productive, innovative and resilient society is built upon, stressing that improved funding for education and healthcare which are two indices of human capital development is critical for accelerating progress and inclusive growth in the state.
The State Accountant General and World Bank Fiscal Focal Person, Dr. Habibat Tijani, emphasized that the HOPE-GOV initiative will support the efforts of the state government to enhance fiscal transparency, improve budget credibility, and ensure accountability in the use of funds for policies and programmes of the state government.
She noted that the initiative will increase the availability and effectiveness of financing for education and healthcare, improve recruitment and performance of teachers and healthcare workers in the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Honorable Wemi Jones lauded the initiative and commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s efforts in repositioning the education sector in the state adding that over ₦1.2 billion has been allocated for external examination fees of pupils and students in primary and secondary schools by the present administration.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams noted that the Hope-Gov initiative is set to revolutionize healthcare service delivery and promote access to essential healthcare services in the state.
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