The Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ) has called for increased budgetary allocation for the health sector, particularly towards investments in health security.
It noted that till date, Nigeria still vacillates around 5 per cent allocation to the health sector. This, it said, is in contrast to the country’s 15 per cent commitment at the Abuja Declaration in 2001.
Lafiya360 reports that the President of ANHEJ, Joseph Kadiri, made this known during the association’s 7th Annual Conference which was held in Akwanga, Nasarawa state, with the theme: “Health Security: Nigeria’s Efforts to Achieve Universal Health Coverage.”
He also emphasized on the need for the country, and indeed Africa, to be prepared against future pandemics and epidemics. He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic came with its own blessings, as it revealed the shortcomings in the country’s health security infrastructure.
Kadiri further stressed that the conference provides a platform for stakeholders, and indeed the government, to discuss the challenges in the sector, while proffering feasible solutions to improve the health indices of the country, particularly as it relates to maternal and child health.
He said, “Stakeholders from the public and private health spaces convened to address pressing issues, including Nigeria’s alarming maternal mortality rate, under-five mortality rate, and the high percentage of women delivering outside health facilities.”
Kadiri, who further expressed dissatisfaction over the proposed 2024 budget allocation of N1.33 trillion to health, also called for the full implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), and the timely release of funds for the sector.
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, assured Nigerians of her agency’s resolve and commitment to vaccine safety, quality, and efficacy.
Adeyeye, who was represented by her Special Adviser, Mr. Nantim Dadi, stated that ANHEJ plays a vital role in educating, empowering, and advocating for the public’s health.
“Your work contributes to a well-informed society that can make healthier choices and actively engage with the healthcare system,” she said.
The former Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, who was represented by the Director of Press at the agency, Mohammad Ohitoto, highlighted ANHEJ’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s polio-free status, achieved through community education.
Ohitoto noted that the polio-free status in the country was achieved through the efforts of many stakeholders, including the government, traditional and community leaders, communities, ANHEJ and families.
“ANHEJ played a unique and significant role in educating and enlightening the community and parents on the need for children to receive polio vaccines. They played a most crucial role in winning the community back, after a massive boycott of polio vaccinations. Without the success of the intervention of ANHEJ, Nigeria would have remained a polio-endemic country,” he said.
The Country Director of BudgIT, Gabriel Okeowo, stressed that functional Primary Health Care (PHCs) centres are important to Nigeria achieving the 2030 target for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) of leaving no one behind.