Our Purpose Is To Improve Our Population Health Outcomes- says FG

The Coordinating Minister for Health & Social Welfare Prof. Muhammadu Ali Pate has affirmed improving population health outcomes and, ensuring financial protection to the poorest and vulnerables in the country as a focal point for implementation by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration.

Also tied to the mission of this present administration is maintaining industrial peace and harmony in a critical sector as Health.

Prof. Muhammadu Ali Pate stated at the opening ceremony of the 65th National Council of Health in Maiduguri Borno State, held at the Mohammad Indimi Centre for Distance Learning, University of Maiduguri, Borno. The theme of the 65th NCH meeting is ” Accelerating Pathways To Universal Health Coverage: Strategies For 2030 Success”; which attracted Commissioners of health from the 36 states, Top Management Staff of the Ministry, Development Partners and Civil Society organisations.

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 and repositioned regulatory bodies at the Federal level. The National Food Drug & Administration Control NAFDAC, he stressed, is a strong regulator that maintains the safety and efficacy of health products and distribution system.

Emphasizing the collaboration between the Federal and States for achieving and improving population health outcomes, Prof. Pate said 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).

Furthermore, a testament of this partnership and collaborative efforts was the training of more than 43,000 frontline health workers out of the targets of 120,000 that was set, which is still ongoing, he pointed out.

” 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.

Elaborating further, 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.

“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 called on every State to allocate at least 15% of their annual budget to health.

The Executive Governor seized the opportunity of the occasion to announce and approve a pay rise for medical doctors in the state civil service, in parity with their counterparts in federal public service. To this end, he directed the state Commissioner of health to liaise with relevant government agency to bridge gaps in payment between doctors working for the state and federal government.

He described the NCH meeting as a forum to collaborate, brainstorm and deliver on the mandate of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR towards actualising the goal to save lives, reduce both physical and financial pain and, produce health for all Nigerians.

Delivering vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom mni; commended the Executive Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum for agreeing to host the 65th NCH a year ago and, for his warm and enchanting hospitality to delegates and participants since their arrival to Maiduguri.

Also, the Permanent Secretary acknowledged and thanked the Executive Governor for his commitment to improving the welfare of the health workforce in Borno State.