By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has assured that the country will meet the goal of Universal Health Coverage, UHC by 2030.

The minister said the strategic direction amongst other pronouncements and actions of the federal government clearly demonstrate that President Tinubu is determined to walk the talk with respect to Universal Health Coverage and general improvement of the health status of Nigerians.

To this end, she tasked the 36 state governors to borrow a leaf from the commitment of the president and ensure the faithful implementation of the health renewal compact that was signed in December 2023.

Dr. Salako, spoke while delivering her opening remarks at the opening Council Session of the 65th National Council on Health, taking place in Maiduguri, Borno State.

She said,”From the comprehensive briefing that I have received in the last two weeks, I can see that the delibrate strategies and action plans being implemented and those in the pipeline will ensure that we meet the goal of UHC by 2030.

“These strategies and action plans include the strengthening and prioritizing Primary Health Care (PHC), the reorganisation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, training and retraining of our health workers especially at the PHC level, infrastructural upgrade of healthcare facilities across tertiary health institutions with emphasises on essential equipment and supplies in diagnostics for cancer care management, neonatal units, vaccines, and diagnostic tools to cater specifically to children and maternal health needs and deliberate emphasis in health promotion and disease prevention.

” Community Health Workers are being empowered to educate our people at the community level about primary and secondary prevention focusing on immunizations, health habits, health nutrition, behaviourial changes, environmental health and screening for non-communicable diseases.”

The minister explained that, ” The Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the health sector is to provide to all Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable population; qualitative, accessible, affordable and responsive healthcare services that does not put the Nigerians in financial hardship.”

” Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 for us is therefore not just a slogan or a catchphrase but a commitment that is backed by a robust pathway to deliver on it in an inclusive, equitable and evidence driven manner, “she added.

According to Salako,”The recently released Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF&FSP) has as part of its key objectives to improve health crisis preparedness and revatilize the Nigeria health system. “

She spoke further:”Health research is being prioritised through the recently revitalised National Health Research Committee, digital health innovations including Electronic Health Records (HER) and Health Information Exchanges (HIE) is being introduced through the Nigeria Digital in Health Initiative (NDHi) as an important pathway to transform healthcare delivery, improving accessibility, efficiency, personalization, and cost-effectiveness. The NDHi is expected to improve access to comprehensive patient records thus enhancing care coordination and reducing redundant tests or treatments and also enhance smoother transitions between the levels of care.

“The Ministry is working to improve and maintain standards at service, reserach and ethical levels through the inauguration of strategic committees in line with the National Health Act 2014 and other exant laws. We are collaborating with experts in diaspora to provide needed support for better care through Telemedicine that connects patients and providers in real time, reducing geographical barriers, especially for rural or underserved populations.

” The Special Presidential Initiative on Unlocking Health Value Chain (PVAC) when fully on stream is expected to grow the our local pharmaceutical industries and enhance the local content of the drugs and other consumables in our health system. As part of the PVAC, it is our vision to pay concerted attention to the development of local herbal drugs putting many more of them in the hands of clinicians by subjecting them to standardised clinical trials that can boost prescription confidence.

“In the spirit of one health we are working with other relevant ministries especially Environment, Agriculture and Food Security and Water and Sanitation to address other determinants of health outside the immediate purview of the health sector.

“Clearly, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in full cooperation with the sub-national governments, our development partners NGOs, CBOs, health worker unions and all stakeholders is poised to change the narrative around our health sector and ensure that Nigerians have access to qualitative and affordable healthcare that they need at every point it time and also set our health indices on a trajectory of improvement for a wider impact on the socio-economic landscape of our country.

“I call for the cooperation of states, our partners, health workers and all health stakeholders for a continous national dialogue on how to put our health system on the trajectory of sustained equitable growth. “