Health Sector: Council, Stakeholders Meets To Strategize Policies For Improved Health Coverage

Health Sector: Council, Stakeholders Meets To Strategize Policies For Improved Health Coverage

By Otobong Gabriel

As parts of the strategic steps to address deficits in the health sector, the federal ministry of health and the health and human services secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has organized the 63rd Ordinary National Council on Health (NCH) Meeting in Abuja to thinkers on sustainable health care system for improved health outcomes in Nigeria.

Speaking in his opening remark for the 4 day-meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the federal ministry of health, Mahmuda Mamman, said the 63rd Ordinary National Council on Health Meeting 2022 with the theme " building a resilient and sustainable health system for improved health outcomes and universal health coverage" is envisioned to address some of the health challenges in the country in terms of policy and implementation to ensure that nobody is left behind or denied access to health care.

He said the council is the highest policy decision body in the health sector and shall  ensure that we achieve a universal health coverage in the whole nation, its an opportunity for us to dialogue and deliberate with states and representatives, strategize on ways and means of achieving the universal health coverage in Nigeria to ensure that nobody is left behind, he said, adding that the objective of the meeting  primarily is to see how we can strengthen the primary health care structure in Nigeria, achieve universal health coverage  at all levels.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Adesola Olusade  said improving the health of the nation's population is a major issue in development, and remain a priority to government. " adding that government is making this deliberate effort to put in place policies and actions that will bring about domestic issues and challenges that will be discussed, as well as experiences shared at this meeting will contribute to the development of the health sector in Nigeria.

He said the President Muhamadu Buhari's  administration believes in building the health care delivery system, which is efficient, cost effective and sustainable and environmentally appropriate resources. And to build a system that measures the world's best standards. "It is very important that all stakeholders should come together to discuss the prospect of challenges to building a system that will ensure the attainment within the passage" and encouraged participants of the meeting to put in their best and come up with solutions that will help the country to build a resilient and sustainable health system that will guarantee positive outcomes for the people.

In his goodwill message, the World Health Organization Representative in Nigeria Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, congratulated the Hon. Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire on his purposeful leadership of the health sector in Nigeria including the successful hosting of another NCH as well as the Honourable Commissioners of Health and the FCT Health Secretary on their huge effort made at the sub-national level each day to ensure achievement of results towards UHC and health security despite obvious challenges.

He said "looking at the Sub-themes of this NCH, deliberate effort has been made to reflect key thematic areas across the 6 pillars of health systems including primary healthcare, climate change, strengthening local manufacture of vaccines and biologicals, big data and digital health, health insurance, and building essential partnerships."

And promised that WHO as a member state organization, will depend on the strategic guidance of the health sector plan, which will be enriched by the outcome of the NCH, to translate these into the Nigeria Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS), even as they advance effort towards 2024-2025 program budget.

And called on all stakeholders in Nigeria, to accelerate effort towards "Building a Resilient and Sustainable Health System for Improved Health Outcomes and Universal Health Coverage".