*Says Nigeria requires N2.7trn to fix PHCs to standards
*Seeks collaboration with private sector to revitalize health sector
Vice President Yemi Osibanjo (SAN) has disclosed that the government budget alone cannot fund the health care.
To this end, the vice president noted that the collaborative efforts between government, partners and the private sector are required in order achieve Universal Health Coverage, UHC.
Speaking on Thursday while declaring open the 2022 Primary Health Care Summit with a theme titled: ‘Re-Imagining Primary Health Care in Nigeria’, Osinbajo said the need for synergy from private sectors, partners and the Federal Government to avoid duplication of Primary Health Care facilities.
The vice president, who disclosed that there is still much that is required to reposition the PHC in Nigeria, said the outbreak of COVID-19 is wake up call for weak countries.
He said, ‘’The Federal Ministry of Health and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), deserve our commendation for providing this very important platform for rethinking primary health care in Nigeria, especially in the wake and after of the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘’The health challenge of sufficient enormity can cripple the global economy and severely worsen the circumstances of the weakest economy and most vulnerable groups and we saw this happening with global growth in negative territories for month’s even years and massive supply chin reduction leading to inflation and millions more going into unemployment and extreme poverty all on account of severe health challenge.
‘’We all saw what happened during the COVID-19, how some wealthier and most developed economies in the world were tragically unprepared to handle public health crises on the scale and uncertainty of the pandemic.
“Where countries with modest economic profile quickly develop a public health formwork especially at the primary level that was responsive and effective which emphasizes that smart and effective management of healthcare is probably as important but not just important as the availability of resources.
‘’When there is a global health crisis on the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot expect any or much health challenge; we cannot expect much help from anyone. Every nation is in such times on its own.
‘’The vaccine nationalism first response of wealthier countries, to the distribution of vaccines was certainly wake up call for poorer countries. Happily, things have improved with regards to the availability of vaccines and we as well commend those countries that have made very generous donations to the African and other developing countries’’.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, lamented that more children under the age 5 die every year in Nigeria.
He said in Nigeria, it will require about N2.7trillion over a 10-year period to get to the right PHC standards
‘’Each year more children under 5 die in Nigeria than anywhere else in the world. Nigeria life expectancy is 54 years, the 5th lowest in the world these poor health indices are closely linked to the sub optimal performance of the primary health care system.
‘’In order to re-imagine the PHCs, we have to bring the PHCs up to speed and ensure we have human resources that will drive the PHCs. It will require about N2.7trillion over a 10-year period to get to the right PHC standards, there is already a N1. 3 trillion already invested in the system by government donors and the private sector we have a gap of 1. 4 trillion we are leveraging on the historic coalition of government donors and the organised private sector to secure the required resources we can use domestic resources from federal states, LGAs and to bridge the gap. We are looking at innovative funding mechanisms through universal Health Coverage’’, Shuaib added.
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard, said that Nigeria was moving closer to the achievement of Universal Health Coverage as it pays more attention to the primary health care sector
Also, the WHO Regional Director, Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that healthcare is a critical aspect of the economy.
Speaking on behalf of the private sector, Chairman, Aigboje Aig-imoukhuede Foundation, Mr. Aigboje Aig-imoukhuede, said that every local government area in Nigeria has people who can deliver Primary Health care center for them.
The event brought together government actors, health stakeholders, donor agencies and partners, religious and traditional leaders to discuss and find ways of making sure that the primary health care sector works in the country.
