Since the baton of leadership was passed to Professor Mohammed Pate the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, the ministry has continued to see landmark innovation in the health sector therefore charting a new course for a better health system for the nation.
Remarkable steps have been taking to ensure improvements on all levels of administration leading to a better, healthier Nigeria. These health reforms in the health sector have earmarked a revolution for Nigerians health sector and a worthy example for other African nations to emulate.
The just concluded three day maiden edition of a wide joint annual health review was a formidable step of the ministry’s efforts to echo part of the six trends stipulated by the world health organization that affects the pace to achieving social development goals (SDGs) by 2030.
A key intent to this realization was marrying climate change into its health policy by launching climate change health vulnerability and adaptation assessment report, 2024 among other initiatives.
These are key health priorities set for 2024 and beyond are:
TO enhance reproductive maternal newborn and child health: strengthening support for mothers and children for a healthier future.
To accelerate immunization programs, targeting high priority antigen to protect communities from preventable disease.
To Combat non communicable diseases, taking action to reduce the burden of lifestyle related health issues
To reduce the incidence of HIV, Tuberculosis and malaria: renewed efforts to diminish these diseases in our communities.
To improve quality of care and service delivery at primary health centers (PHC): ensuring accessible and quality health centers: ensuring accessible and quality health care for all.
To expand financial protection for healthcare affordable and inclusive.
To Increase Human resource for health: building a strong workforce to support Nigeria health infrastructure.
With this new approach, Nigerian is positioned to address intersecting challenges of climate change and healthier head-on and more resilient future for all Nigerians.
The JAR has enabled the ministry to assess its achievements in addressing challenges and set clear priorities, establishing a critical foundation of priority, establishing a critical foundation of transparency accountability and evidence based planning in Nigeria health sector.
The minister commented, with sheer satisfaction, on the outcome of the JAR meeting stating, “The past three days were informative and productive enabling us to launch lifesaving initiatives and strengthen essentials partnership, in addition to the transformative maternal reduction initiatives (MAMII) recently launched by the ministry.
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The MAMII initiative major highlight is to offer free cesarean section to all eligible Nigerian women meeting the criteria. Also the ministry unveiled “the change and health vulnerability and adaption assessment (V and A) report”.
The V and A report provide essential insight into the effects of climate change on the health status all people across Nigeria. By identifying climate health risks, the report supports the creation of a resilient health system capable of addressing the challenges posed by a changing environment underscoring the ministries commitment to sustainability of the wellbeing of Nigeria.
Furthermore on the success of the V and A report is an establishment of a dedicated expert working group focused on strengthening our national health data system. The EWG will regulate gap in data collection from the national implement a mini survey (NDHS).
Through timely and reliable data, the group will empower the ministry to track progress, address emerging health threats and make informed, data driven decisions essentials to the sectors success.The minister states astutely that the importance of the joint annual review cannot be overstated. More than a review process, the JAR is a statement to the commitment to building a health system that transparent accountable responsive and resilient. By setting this review in motion we have aided a foundation for continuous improvement and adaptation.
Members of the public applaud the commitment of the minister on his administration to a public accountable approach to his workings in the ministry. Nigerians across the nation expressed enthusiastic satisfaction to the honorable minister’s resilience towards a healthier Nigeria urging that these actions should be swiftly expedited.
Appeals are being made that further strengthen the ministries resolve to improve health care, NHIS should be accessible to students in tertiary institutions and people in the informal sector also.
Other landmark achievement on the roadmap towards a great health system in Nigeria is violence against children. The world health organization has recorded that one in two children is a victim of violence. Nigeria has joined the League of Nations and made notable pledge with eight other countries to include pledges to pursue legislation against corporal punishment in all settings in regards to child offenders.
Other commitment made by Nigeria through it ministry of health and social welfare in regards to tackling violence against children is to roll out national guidelines on alternative care of children and its plantation strategy by December 2024 and making sure it is adapted in the 36 states of the federation including federal capital by 2030;
Also Providing timely comprehensive and inclusive support services for 2million children that have experienced and are at risk of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation;
Promote and support 20, 0000 multidisciplinary social service workforce to provide integrated, child centered and gender sensitive justice health education and social welfare services to survivors of sexual violence including technology based services by 2030;
Promote supportive nationwide child helpline and sexual assault referral centers in18 sates by 2030; Also promoting and support nationwide child helpline centers in18 states by 2030.
It further seeks to strengthen community based child protection structures in 26 states and to identify report and refer cases of violence against children including harmful practices by 2027.
Development partners such as the world health organization WHO have pledged Nigeria support to its ministry of health on just launched [mammie} initiative stating it will consider skilled health work force, financing infrastructure referral system and commodity availability. This approach is to make sure that no one is left behind and is well aligned with UHC and SDG goals.
The minister of woman affairs Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, lending her efforts in ending violence against children, led a high level delegation towards a violence free Nigeria especially for our children. It was a first global conference on ending violence against children. These critical steps by both ministry has put Nigeria in a positive map for indeed a better resilient, and healthier Nigeria.
