By Kemi Yesufu
Coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali-Pate has outlined his four- point agenda for the health sector.
Pate who served as minister of State Health and as the Executive-Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), shared his plan via his handle on micro-blogging platform X.
He said on the thread shared on Monday that this agenda will be based on accountability and transparency, with the goal of improving the country’s health outcomes.
He also listed his focus areas to include improved primary healthcare services, better motivated healthcare workers and sustainable funding for the sector.
He stated: “Couple of weeks ago I assumed office as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare @Fmohnigeria with the mandate to transform Nigeria’s healthcare system for improved health outcomes in line with H.E. President Bola A Tinubu GCFR @officialABAT Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Our agenda focuses on 4 pillars: 1. Strengthening health sector governance and institutions, smart and effective regulations, digitization, enhance citizen voices and our responsiveness, and making sure no one is left behind. 2.Efficient, resilient, equitable, affordable and quality health system to improve health outcomes by delivering preventive, promotive, and curative services, at primary healthcare and hospitals, by properly trained and motivated health workforce, and sustainable domestic financing. Medical industrialization and unlocking the healthcare value chains, to create jobs and promote economic development. 4.Embedding health security as part of economic and as national security. We know that the task is huge and the journey is long. But with commitment by all levels of our government, sectors, and partners, we will achieve our vision of a healthy, prosperous, and thriving Nigeria. This we will do with utmost transparency and impeccable accountability”.
In an article published in The Lancet in March 22 by Blake Angell, Olutobi Sonuade et al, Nigeria’s health outcomes remain poor. According to the researchers, health outcomes remain poor in Nigeria despite higher expenditure since 2001. “Better outcomes in countries with equivalent or lower health expenditure suggest health system strengthening and targeted intervention to address unsafe water sources, poor sanitation, malnutrition, and exposure to air pollution could substantially improve population health”, the authors opined.
They also listed data based on which they made their deductions to include: Between 1998 and 2019, life expectancy and HALE increased in Nigeria by 18% to 64·3 years (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 62·2–66·6), mortality reduced for all age groups for both male and female individuals, and health expenditure per person increased from the 11th to third highest in west Africa by 2018 (US$18·6 in 2001 to $83·75 in 2018). Nonetheless, relative outcomes remained poor; Nigeria ranked sixth in west Africa for age-standardised mortality, seventh for HALE, tenth for YLLs, 12th for health system coverage, and 14th for YLDs in 2019. Malaria (5176·3 YLLs per 100 000 people, 95% UI 2464·0–9591·1) and neonatal disorders (4818·8 YLLs per 100 000, 3865·9–6064·2) were the leading causes of YLLs in Nigeria in 2019. Nigeria had the fourth-highest under-fivemortality rate for male individuals (2491·8 deaths per 100000, 95% UI 1986·1–3140·1) and female individuals (2117·7 deaths per 100000, 1756·7–2569·1), but among the lowest mortality for men older than 55 years. There was evidence of a growing non-communicable disease burden facing older Nigerians.
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