In a bold pledge, the federal government has announced ambitious plans to strengthen the healthcare system and provide quality, and affordable coverage for all citizens. This promise of transformational change was unveiled at the 64th National Council on Health (NCH) meeting held last week in Ado-Ekiti.
According to a communique issued after the council deliberations, over 600 delegates participated in the various sessions, including representatives from state health ministries, development partners, civil society groups and the private sector.
As contained in the communique, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has outlined plans to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system and improve access to quality care for all citizens. This was announced by the Honorable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the chair of the event.
According to the communique Prof. Pate outlined key reforms in his speech, ranging from improved governance to unlocking value chains, to health security.
“Our overarching goal is to minimize suffering and ensure health for all Nigerians,” Professor Pate affirmed.
The four-day summit yielded a slate of approved policies to revamp the healthcare landscape.
During the technical sessions, 82 policy memos were considered. Key resolutions approved include adopting a sector-wide approach for health renewal, securing dedicated funding for medical oxygen, establishing family planning budget lines and implementing training on maternal and child health nutrition.
Other policy priorities highlighted include increasing local production of health workers, leveraging Nigerian diaspora expertise, public-private partnerships to bridge infrastructure gaps, prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, suicide prevention, snakebite treatment and antimicrobial resistance governance.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, called for urgent efforts to expand the health workforce, imploring state governments to allocate more funding for health worker training.
The NCH communiqué stated the overarching goal is to minimize suffering and ensure health for all Nigerians. By addressing policy gaps, the government aims to build a more resilient and inclusive healthcare architecture.
“We aim to build a healthcare system that leaves no Nigerian behind,” declared Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate,
“The time for piecemeal efforts is over,” Prof. Pate emphasized. “We will build the healthcare system Nigerians need and deserve.”
