The Centre for Health Sciences Training, Research and Development (CHESTRAD), has urged the federal government and other tiers of government to ensure that the annual budgetary allocation to the health sector is efficiently utilized.
In a statement signed by President of CHESTRAD and Global Director of I Will Give (IWG), Dr. Boluwatife Lola-Dare, to commemorate this year edition of World Health Day (WHO), says the national government and other tiers of government need to increase budgetary allocation to the health sector, and ensure that the money spent improves the health status of Nigerians.
“Nigeria continues to lag behind on all health indicators. It is estimated that current spending per capita for health in Nigeria is $120 per capita, a figure much higher than the recommended $86 per capita to provide basic health care.”
” In spite of this, health indicators in Nigeria is one of the worst in Africa and its health systems capacity amongst the weakest. Improved public financing for health, and improved efficiency in spending are both very urgent if Nigeria is to achieve targets set in the Sustainable Development Goals including the pertinent aspirations for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.” She said
Dare enjoined the government and other stakeholders in the Nigerian health sector including development partners, private sector, foundations, social enterprises and philanthropic individuals to strengthen the Primary Health Care approach and contribute to secure our national health systems to achieve universal health coverage.
The theme for the 2018 World Health Day focusses on Health for everyone, everywhere. WHO, according to Dr. Dare, emphasized the need for countries to approach the UHC in the way that is best suited for their context, giving consideration to the diversity in health burdens, health systems and economic capacities.
Global messaging for UHC is affirmative in its position that UHC, does not mean free coverage for all possible health interventions, regardless of the cost , as no country can provide all services free of charge on a sustainable basis”, she noted. She maintained that establishing health financing strategies from all sources (public, private and philanthropy), led by public finance, and improving financial management through alignment and coordination is the way to go in order to achieve the health sustainable development goals. “Sustained and increased investment by development partners in the Nigerian sectors remain important. CHESTRAD joins the global call by civil society organizations that developed nations should firmly commit to achieving the target of 0.7% of GNI to development and 1% of this should be invested in stronger health systems in lower and middle income countries like Nigeria. “Transparency of donor funds at the country level, shared accountability and mutual respect are core drivers of progress.”
She says, “CHESTRAD identifies with UHC in its effort to canvass for a holistic approach to achieving the health SDG that includes investments in secure health systems, quality services and good governance based on the primary health care approach.” According to Dare, WHO emphasis on making health services truly universal requires a shift from designing health systems around diseases and institutions towards health services designed around for the people.