The Federal Ministry of Health under the leadership of Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said it is collaborating with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to hold a primary health care summit scheduled for March 24 to 25, 2022, in Abuja.
The summit, with the theme “Reimagining PHC” is solutions-focused and geared towards delivering improved primary healthcare services across the country and transforming the under-resourced, weak primary health care system in Nigeria by leveraging the private sector, international agencies and government collaboration.
The summit will bring together national elected leaders, top government officials and leading private sector executives to present ambitious and attainable plans that will lead to tangible and largescale changes to Nigeria’s primary health care (PHC) system by the year 2030.
“Primary health care is the foundation of the entire health system [and] its strength is crucial to the functioning of all other levels. To meaningfully improve the quality and accessibility of health care in Nigeria as a whole, we must urgently and comprehensively reform our primary care system,” he said.
A statement signed by the executive director, NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said approximately 43 per cent of Nigerians have access to quality primary healthcare services, with only about 4 doctors available per 10,000 people – a fraction of the minimum rate recommended by the UN for basic health coverage. It is widely recognised that 70 per cent of diseases can be prevented and managed at the PHC level.
Shuaib pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic has cast a sharp light on the global inequalities in health and access to care. The health care system in Nigeria needs transformation and the PHC is the backbone.
“This launch is a call to join in the ambitious action to transform health in Nigeria for our and future generations. A fit-for-purpose PHC system is foundational to delivering universal health coverage, national health security and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria.
“Nigeria eradicated Wild Polio Virus in the year 2020, a monumental achievement that followed decades of immunization work. We proved that Nigeria’s PHC system is highly effective when properly funded,” he added.
The NPHCDA boss said, thus, the summit will kick-start fund mobilisation to realise the programme’s goals – it will be an inclusive project, leveraging the know-how and resources of the private sector, government, and global development agencies. The programme is driven by the conviction that all Nigerians have the right to quality, accessible health care and that current challenges can be solved through strategic, transparent consolidation of available funding and a mobilisation among partners to collaborate on this urgent priority.
The event is open to all through virtual or in-person. Register here: https://www.phcsummit2022.com/
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