By Gabriel Ewepu, Abuja

As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate 2024 World Health Day, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, Monday, demanded government at all levels address the protracted challenges in the nation’s healthcare system.

In a chat with Vanguard, the Country Director, AAN, Andrew Mamedu, pointed out that the health sector is key to the productivity of citizens, growth of the economy, and strength of the nation, hence there is urgent need to proactively address the current challenges that have bedeviled the sector.

Meanwhile, according to the World Health Organization, WHO, around the world, the right to health of millions is increasingly coming under threat. Diseases and disasters loom large as causes of death and disability.

Conflicts are devastating lives, causing death, pain, hunger and psychological distress.

The burning of fossil fuels is simultaneously driving the climate crisis and taking away our right to breathe clean air, with indoor and outdoor air pollution claiming a life every five seconds.

The WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All has found that at least 140 countries recognize health as a human right in their constitution. Yet countries are not passing and putting into practice laws to ensure their populations are entitled to access health services. This underpins the fact that at least 4.5 billion people — more than half of the world’s population — were not fully covered by essential health services in 2021.

To address these types of challenges, the theme for World Health Day 2024 is ‘My health, my right’.

Mamedu said: “The theme for World Health Day 2024, ‘My Health, My Right,’ serves as a reminder of the critical importance of prioritizing healthcare as a fundamental human right, especially at a time when Nigeria is grappling with numerous challenges within its healthcare system.

“The recent exodus of medical personnel has evidently left many states with alarming doctor-to-patient ratios, such as Benue, where there is only one doctor for every 10,000 patients, severely compromising access to quality healthcare, particularly for those living in poor and excluded communities.

“Additionally, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment sounded the alarm in 2023, reporting over 120,000 new cancer cases annually in Nigeria and the World Health Organization, WHO, highlighted Nigeria as having the highest burden of malaria globally, accounting for nearly 27 per cent of the global malaria burden.

“The Federal Government must take immediate and decisive action to address these pressing issues in the healthcare system. This includes providing adequate investment in healthcare infrastructure, recruiting and retaining skilled healthcare professionals, improving the welfare and working conditions of healthcare workers, prioritising healthcare financing, strengthening regulatory mechanisms, and implementing policies that promote universal health coverage.”

However, he also called on State governments to also holistically address protracted healthcare challenges that would add value to the lives of Nigerians.

“Without these systemic reforms, upholding the rights of citizens to quality healthcare will remain a challenge. While the Federal Government plays a significant role in setting policies and providing overall direction for the healthcare system, state governments also have a crucial role to play in addressing the specific healthcare needs of their populations.

“State governments must prioritise healthcare as a key component of their development agenda and allocate sufficient resources to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, expand access to essential services, and improve the quality of care that they provide”, he added.