Stakeholders in the health sector have demanded more financing and government accountability as a strategic response to Nigeria’s urgent healthcare concerns.
The call to action was made at the strategic retreat of the National Assembly’s seven health committees, held in Abuja as part of the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage and Health Security (LNU).
The worrisome rates of maternal and infant mortality in Nigeria were highlighted by Dr. Olumide Okunola, a senior health specialist for the World Bank Group. He emphasised that Nigerian moms frequently face an uncertain future after giving birth and that the future of their offspring is also in jeopardy.
In Nigeria, paying for healthcare out of pocket is a common need, which puts financial strain on families and forces them to make difficult choices. Okunola made the observation that, throughout Africa, Nigerians contribute the most to healthcare costs, primarily as a result of high out-of-pocket payments.
He emphasised that decision-makers, particularly those in positions of authority who may provide public financing for healthcare, are responsible for finding a solution to this problem. He emphasised that the healthcare system would not improve without proper public investment, resulting in chronically high rates of maternal and newborn mortality.
Okunola called for better use of the current resources and asked politicians to prioritise healthcare financing. Additionally, he disclosed recent discussions with the health minister regarding ideas to pool financing from multiple sources into a single fund in order to increase the efficiency of healthcare spending. However, this strategy demands openness and responsibility from the government.
Despite the difficulties, Okunola expressed optimism for the following four years and praised lawmakers for their skills and commitment to determining the direction of healthcare in Nigeria.
The choices taken during the retreat, according to Emmanuel Alhassan, Nigeria coordinator at Prevent Epidemics, Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), would be crucial in determining the success of the nation’s health sector during the following one to four years.