Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)
State Governors, commissioners commit to new approaches towards improving healthcare delivery
State Governors in the country and states’ commissioners for health have stressed the need for periodic review and possible adoption of new approaches to ensure improved Universal Health Coverage (UHC), particularly at the sub-urban and rural communities.
Chairman, Nigeria Commissioners of Health Forum, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, who spoke at a strategic retreat for the Commissioners and other relevant stakeholders on leadership and effective health care service delivery in Abuja, stressed the need for constant collaborations and review of approaches to ensure that the desired result are achieved.
The retreat, backed by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and other partners, was organised in order to constantly boost the capacity of the Commissioners and also provide a platform for exchange of ideas, knowledge, skills and expertise, for the general good and improvement of the health sector.
Dr. Filani, said the key take away for participants at the retreat was to strongly mobilize key ministries and agencies so they can align with the vision and desire of the government to improve the health care services for the people.
Remarking, NGF Director General, Asishana Okauru, described the retreat as a landmark event ‘because it is the first time the leadership of health MDAs at the sub-national level from the 36 States and the FCT, comprising the Commissioners of Health, Executive Secretaries/CEOs of the State Social Health Insurance Agencies, State PHC Boards and State Drug Agencies, gathered together to review the structural, political, interpersonal and contextual barriers and challenges affecting the effectiveness of the state health leadership teams and to collectively chart a course towards addressing them.’
“The NGF secretariat is happy and very supportive of the initiative because effective leadership of the health MDAs at the sub-national level is a critical and a necessary ingredient for the attainment of the vision of the NGF in the health sector especially as it relates to the quest to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and other SDG 3 goals,
“It’s commendable to note the increasing visibility and participation of the Forum at the Federal level. This is important towards ensuring that lessons from the States are reflected in the design and conceptualization of national policies and programmes,” Filani said.
He promised that NGF secretariat will continue to advocate adequate and equitable representation of the states in national committees and platforms that are responsible for design and planning of national interventions and programmes.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire has assured Nigerians of Federal Government’s commitment towards achieving Universal Health Coverage.
The minister gave the assurance at a symposium on repositioning the healthcare sector organised by Healthcare Transformation Coalition (HTC) in Abuja.
Dr Ehanire described healthcare as ‘a critical component’ in human capital development which must be given priority attention.
The Minister lauded the Nigerian government for improving the healthcare of Nigerians, saying “the symposium would offer the country the opportunity to explore areas of improvement.”
Ehanire said “the objective of government was to build health coverage for no fewer than 90% of the nation’s population.”
He explained that the provision of quality health financing mechanism and continuous improvement to healthcare, especially in the rural areas, were also their priority.
A former Commissioner for Health, Lagos, Dr Jide Idris said that it was time to close the gaps inherent in Nigeria’s health sector.
Idris said innovations and ideas were required to engender rapid health development in Nigeria. UHC seeks to ensure that people have access to the healthcare they need without much financial hardship.
