By Victoria Ojeme

President Goodluck Jonathan has again been called upon to assent to the National Health Bill as part of measures to improve the nation’s health care delivery service.

National Programme Officer of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Mrs Christy Iwuno-Mojekwu said assent to the bill will mark a fundamental shift in the way health care services is delivered in Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja last week during a media parley, she said the bill provides a fundamental shift in the way healthcare services will be governed, planned, resourced, delivered and monitored, and deals squarely with the Nigerian health questions and priorities.

Iwuno-Mojekwu said the fundamental problems that plague the health sector are weak policy and governance structures, inadequate, inefficient financing of health care and low quality of health services, reducing utilization as well as human resources for health challenges and provider focused rather than client focused health system.

According to her, the bill, when assented to, would provide free medical care for children less than five years old, pregnant mothers, the elderly and disabled people. Other benefits include guaranteed basic minimum health package for all Nigerians, universal acceptance of accident cases by all health facilities in Nigeria and ensure quality of healthcare services through the issuance of certificates of standard.

According to National Coordinator, Save Motherhood, Mr Tonte Ibraye,  the president would do well to assent to the bill before the UN general Assembly scheduled for later in September. “Assent to the bill is essential for the President to build quality health care, as he pledged in his campaign promises. If the bill is assented to, we will have something to celebrate with other countries at the UN General Assembly.”