Nigerian govt approves new National Health Policy

A Hospital ward used to illustrate the story
A Hospital ward used to illustrate the story

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a new National Health Policy.

This was revealed by the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, on Wednesday while speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council in Abuja.

Mr. Adewole said the new policy is the third in the history of Nigeria, coming after those of 1988 and 2004.

“The title of the policy is promoting the health of Nigerians to accelerate socio-economic development,” he said.

He also said the process of getting the policy to the FEC took some time.

“We constituted a technical working group, chaired by former minister of health, Professor Eyitayo Lambo, to look into the country’s context, the challenges, what went wrong in the past and how we can reposition the health sector,” he said.

Mr. Adewole said the new policy will also provide “direction necessary to support the achievement of significant progress in terms of improving the performance of the national health system.

“It also lays emphasis on primary healthcare  as the bedrock of our national health system in addition to the provision of financial risk protection to all Nigerians particularly the poor and vulnerable population,” he said.

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  • Gerald Okoduwa

    Why is this minister just presenting his plan of action about mid-way into his tenure? How long does he have to put the plan into action before the end of his tenure in 2019? PMB should nevertheless rejig his cabinet. His aides are working as if they have 25 years tenure ahead.

    • ALBERT

      Gerald, it is not the fault of the Minister or Ministers but how Ministers are appointed. Our appointing, vetting and approval process of Ministerial appointees are extremely faulty, unproductive and counter productive. In other serious climes, where the government has focus, developmental blue prints with set objectives, goals and timelines, the President sends list of Ministers to the Senate with their designations. The President in presenting his nominees to the Public , reads out the targets and expected results of each of his Nominee. The senate sets up and appointments committee or sector committees to vet these appointees. It is during this process where Nigerians would have the opportunity to send questions, memoranda and vexing issues to the Minister designate to answer and espouse his blue prints, knowledge and capacity towards resolving these issues. Since 1999, the President sends a list , instead of designation, list States as if the Ministers are going to be Ministers for the respective states. Our Senate too has no experience in vetting Ministers. Some are simply asked to take a bow and go. Buhari`s approach has been the worst in modern times. It took him over a year to appoint Ministers, after two years, most boards , products of the constitution have not been constituted. Our political parties do not have published manifestos to hold them accountable as they keep disclaiming what their surrogate said on campaign platforms. In other climes, Ministers are vetted with reference to their party manifestos or vision outlined by their principal.

    • Pawa2

      It is a national policy, which should outlast the tenure of the current government. The giveaway is that there have only been three policy documents since 1988. Policies like that should normally last between 10 and 25 years and take time to put in place.

  • Alfa Sanni

    Looking at the hospital beds and surrounding workers in Nigerian hospital, we will die in the car not ambulances that iw carrying wounded or sick patient there for treatment. No-wonder the rich escape quickly if they are conscious enough to make it to airport to London for treatment. But we read of billions of niara being recovered and citizens with billions of niara that could use it to improve the condition of their treatment centers. This is an act of black-man wickedness and wishing their own kind evils treatment. You can die we don’t care evil attitude. For me I am going to London, India or Egypt hospital. Na you sabi.