The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for stronger collaboration between the federal and state governments in Nigeria to tackle the numerous challenges within the healthcare system of the country.
The UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Rownak Khan, said this at the induction of the newly appointed Commissioners of Health in Nigeria themed “Navigating Health Leadership: From Promise to Impact”.
Speaking at the induction, Ms. Khan highlighted that genuine progress in the healthcare sector would remain elusive unless there was alignment between national and subnational policies and their implementation.
Ms. Khan further explained that signals from the coordinating minister of health and social welfare and various health commissioners indicated that the new leadership provided a unique opportunity for innovation and efficiency in responding to the health sector’s challenges.
“We look forward to the concretisation of the government’s strategic direction in the health sector, especially the Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) proposed by the coordinating minister as a way of maximising the impact of development assistance to the country,” she noted.
“One of UNICEF’s foremost priorities is the strengthening of primary health care. We recognize that a robust primary healthcare system is the bedrock of a nation’s health infrastructure,” she stressed.
READ ALSO: Labour Strike Caused Imo Blackout, EEDC Says
“It is the gateway to improving maternal and child health outcomes, nutrition, and immunisation coverage.”
Ms Khan added, “We stand ready to provide technical expertise, capacity building, and resources to help the commissioners revitalize and fortify your primary healthcare facilities”.