The Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ) has issued a resounding call to action, urging for health security and increased funding in Nigeria’s health sector.
President of ANHEJ, Mr. Joseph Kadiri emphasised this during the association’s 7th annual conference in Akwanga, Nasarawa State, themed “Health Security: Nigeria’s Efforts to Achieve Universal Health Coverage”.
Kadiri linked this call to the global discourse surrounding health security, particularly heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The conference served as a stock-taking forum, evaluating progress in critical areas of the country’s health sector and scrutinising federal policies and programmes.
Stakeholders from public and private health spaces convened to address pressing issues, including Nigeria’s alarming maternal mortality rate, under-five mortality rate and the high percentage of women delivering outside health facilities. Kadiri highlighted the ongoing diphtheria outbreak, stressing the need for substantial funding in the health sector.
Expressing concern over the proposed allocation of N1.33 trillion in the 2024 budget, falling significantly short of the ‘Abuja Declaration,’ which recommends allocating 15 per cent of the annual budget to the health sector, Kadiri urged the Federal Government to deploy more funds. He emphasised the necessity to fully implement the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and prioritise health security in the face of emerging epidemics and pandemics.
The president underscored the need for accessible and affordable healthcare for all Nigerians, reversing medical tourism and addressing gaps in delivering quality services for family planning, cancer and non-communicable diseases. He called for increased government funding, efforts against medical tourism and brain drain, and a concerted focus on delivering quality healthcare services across various health domains.
The director-general of NAFDAC, Dr. Mojisola Adeyeye reiterated the body’s commitment to ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines. Also, she commended the ANHEJ’s role in educating, empowering and advocating for public health.
A spokesperson for the NPHCDA, Mr. Mohammad Ohitoto highlighted ANHEJ’s role in interrupting the transmission of indigenous wild poliovirus, contributing to Nigeria’s certification as polio-free in 2020. He acknowledged ANHEJ’s significant role in educating communities and parents on the importance of polio vaccines.
The country director of BudgIT, Mr. Gabriel Okeowo emphasised the importance of Sub-theme 3, focusing on “Improving access to healthcare: the role of the Primary Health Care (PHCs).” Okeowo highlighted the critical role of PHCs in the nation’s healthcare system and called for innovative strategies and collaborative efforts to strengthen and empower PHCs.
Okeowo encouraged health journalists to amplify the discourse on challenges and successes related to improving healthcare access through PHCs. He urged conference participants to contribute to the goal of a healthier and more resilient nation by advocating for the role of PHCs in improving healthcare accessibility.
The conference concluded with a call for transformative conversations and impactful actions to address healthcare challenges in Nigeria.
