The Federal Government lauds Nigeria’s Health Sector Compact as a significant milestone in the transformation of healthcare within the nation.
According to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, this compact has the potential to play a pivotal role in reshaping Nigeria’s healthcare system and ushering in positive developments.
The Director of the Department of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Dr Chris Osa Isokpunwu, delivered this assertion during the Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC) Annual General Meeting Policy Dialogue 2.0 and Charter Adoption event held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Emphasizing the necessity for a robust commitment from all stakeholders, Isokpunwu stressed the compact’s capacity to significantly improve the overall health and well-being of the Nigerian populace. This recognition stresses a concerted effort towards enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality nationwide.
He underscored that with its emphasis on equitable resource allocation, improved infrastructure, and the pursuit of universal health coverage, the compact stands poised to make substantial strides in advancing population health outcomes nationwide.
Also, Nigeria Coordinator, Prevent Epidemics, Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Mr Emmanuel Alhassan, said that the decisions made during the annual meeting would shape the success of the country’s health sector.
Alhassan said it is important to set actionable and achievable milestones that can be tracked, urging that it is time for all stakeholders to begin to provide solutions to the problems of the health sector rather than complaining.
In addition, the Country Director of USAID GHSC-PSM, Mr Mike Egboh, emphasised the paramount importance of positioning HSRC as a reputable and reliable organization.
Egboh said the centrality of fully operationalising the National Health Act, emphasizing that this endeavour requires not only diligence but also a steadfast daily commitment.
“It is not merely a task; it’s a continuous dedication that we must fervently emphasize,” he asserted.
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He highlighted the criticality of forging substantive partnerships with other stakeholders, emphasizing that collaborative efforts are essential for translating shared aspirations into tangible outcomes.
He described the future of HSRC to serve as a catalyst and advocate for change in the Nigerian Health reform space.
“Support the building and strengthening public health capacity in Nigeria. Be the champion for optimal equitable health and well-being for all Nigerians.
“Serve as a clearing house for National regional and global information and best practices and resources for health.
“A membership association with an independent secretariat having its own full/part-time/volunteer staff.
“A highly potential membership association with a clearly defined mission and vision statement. That is founded on technical principles transparency and accountability.
“A non-profit, non-political, non-religious organization that serves as a watchdog to government and its agencies and the organized private sector holding them accountable for their stewardship,” he outlined.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of HSRC, Mrs Chika Offor, said that the objective of the meeting was to have a dialogue on health systems strengthening through effective governance.
Offor said it was also to review and adopt the HSRC Charter.
NAN
