Minister for Health Dr. Osagie Enahere has disclosed that the Primary health care centers have been standardized with the intention to provide 24 hours full service.
He made the disclosure Thursday in Abuja while declaring open, a two-day meeting with Commissioners of Health from the 36 states of the federation, organised by the Health Department of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).
This is even as he has disclosed that progress is being made in the production of vaccines for Lassa Fever, adding that the epidemic is now in 27 states.
The aim of the meeting is to onboard all Commissioners of Health on the Seattle Declaration and strategise on its operationalization; as well as enlighten them on other health priorities of the governors form.
It is also to update the commissioners on priority of national health agenda and their roles in translating them at subnational level.
It is also to promote experience sharing and learning amongst the commissioners, develop roadmap for strengthening the health commissioners forum for better healthcare delivery at subnational level.
Ehanere regretted that Nigeria has not reached the level of providing the quality of health required to meet its population.
According to him, “We know that our country health system does not yet provide the level of quality of service required to meet the population.”
He noted that Nigeria was far from reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Ehanere said “For instance, the maternal morality rate of 512 per 100,000 live birth and under 5 morality rate of 132 per thousand birth, show that we are far away from reaching sustainable development goal.”
The minister said with the right approach, appeal, and strategic use of data and resources the country can achieve the strategic development goal.
The minister stressed that the country has the potential to become a major player in the global economy by virtue of it’s human resource, natural resources and endowment, adding that the Buhari’s administration is focused on investment in human capital development.
According to him, the development of a functional healthcare system is the foundation of health care which he said must be complemented by a strong secondary health care system.
“The policy requires that you develop the primary, secondly and a functional health system in every local government area of the state. When all these are not put in place, the connectivity is lost,” Ehanere added.
The Minister urged state commissioners for health to make their governors understand that secondary level of healthcare is as important as the primary one also.
Giving update on Lassa fever, he said about 27 states have so far recorded cases of lassa fever, adding that the government was doing a lot in terms of prevention.
“I thank states for the cooperation the government have received in an effort to tackle lassa fever which has reached about 27 states as at the last count and also to have ensured that the popular Corona virus has not entered Nigeria.”
Speaking, the Director General of NGF, Asishana Okauru in his remarks, acknowledged the ongoing ettorts of the Federal Government to revitalize primary healthcare in Nigeria, added that primary healthcare remains the pillar of the healthcare system.
Represented by the Head of Legal Unit, Chidioke Chuku, Okauro disclosed that the Govemors and the Bill and Milinda Gate Foundation as well as Aliko Dangote Foundation have made commitments aimed at promoting stronger collaboration between the Governors, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Federal Ministry of Health and Development partners to move the needle and transform primary healthcare at the subnational level, among others.
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