63rd NCH: Ministry of Health, NDAs to Mitigate Effect of flooding through Emergency Plans – Dr. Ehinire

By Fatima Saka

Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehinire has said the ministry is putting all its efforts with other NDAs to ensure a strong and long term plan to mitigate the adverse effects of flooding on health through development of an emergency plan for flooding, with the help of the National Council of Health as the highest policy making body in Nigeria.

Dr. Ehinire made this disclosure on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of National Council of Health (NCH), saying
climate change, conflict, and COVID-19 are the three C’s that have seriously impacted on the country.

Speaking on, the minister lamented that the recent flooding which has led to displacement of populations and also people who lost their livelihoods.

He also emphasized that human resource or health, the resilience of health systems, requires a sufficient number of qualified health workers.

Ehinire lamented that challenges of training, the capacity to employ, deploy and retain health workers are plagues to the health system, which require sustained investment and collaboration among all tiers of government and also sectors who are involved to ensure a balance in health system and population needs.

“Climate change and its devastating impact in Nigeria was demonstrated by the recent unprecedented flooding events in the country, in which contaminated water sources washed away farmland carried raw sewage and toxic waste from hazardous sites.

“Our costs increased disease outbreaks, as well as mental health issues among those who lost their livelihoods.

“In this regard, the Ministry of Health collaborates with states and agencies to mobilize consolidating aligned investments to support the training or retention of health workforce.

This collaboration is currently developing the strategy to mobilize Nigerian diaspora experts to also be mainstreamed into the health workforce, through virtual and increasing engagement.

“This engagement includes training of human resources for health, from wherever we have Nigerians in diaspora and also here with us to enrich our local capacities and to replace those who emigrated.

“The NCH is a platform where council members and stakeholders meet and consider delivery on, deliberate on ways forward on health issues of national importance.

“The theme of this year’s conference is Building a Resilient and Sustainable Health Systems for Improved Health Outcomes and Universal Health Coverage.

“This theme was adopted after careful thought to encourage stalking of our journey towards achieving sustainable development goals bearing the reality of the times in mind, as well as the ultimate goals of attaining a system that ensures all people have access to needed health services. Which we call universal health coverage, including services for disease prevention, health promotion, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative services,” Dr. Ehinire stated.

In his opening remarks, the Minister of FCT, Mohammed Musa Bello, who was represented by the DR. Abubakar Tafida, said that the FCT administration is committed to improvements in the healthcare delivery system.

He, however, added that it will lead to improvement in the population’s health because one of the priorities of the present FCT administration is to build an effective care system that will lead to positive health indices for the territory, as well providing health coverage for all residents of the Territory.

“The FCT currently expanding access to both primary and secondary health care services by providing the necessary health
infrastructures, as well as increasing and improving our health Workforce.

“The NCH to discuss the way forward for a Resilient and Sustainable HealthCare system for the county, I wish to implore all
delegates to put in their best so that at the end of this meeting we would have come up with resolutions that will enable the development of effective health policies that will ensure a resilient and sustainable
health care system for the country,” FCT Minister.

The Minister of State for Health, Hon. Joseph Ekumankama, stated that with this high-level meeting concerning UHC and Building a Resilient Health System to Improved Health Outcomes for Nigerians must serve as a juncture for repositioning the country commitments to strengthen the health sector for the future.

“We must prioritize the healthcare needs of the most vulnerable Nigerians,especially in flood-affected areas, health emergencies, lacking access to medical
services and impoverishment from out-of-pocket expenditures, by focusing on
strengthening the primary healthcare system.

“Second, we must find ways to attract investment in Health to ensure equitable
Health coverage expands from urban areas to rural areas providing better access to health services. To find alternative approaches to reduce the brain drain phenomenon within the health system.

“Third, to improve public, private partnerships in our health system to encourage more investment in the local manufacture of essential medicines and other health care technologies,”Ekumankama said.

On behalf of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Health, Hon. Dr Tanko Sununu, Chairman House of Committee on Health stated that the National Assembly will ensure full personalization of the National Health Act 2014. Adding that, it is the basis of legislatures to drive the policies.

He emphasized that partial implementation of some selected areas impede the progress of healthcare in Nigeria and it will continue on that phrase, until the country adopts the political will of Implementation of 100%,”he added.

Also, in their goodwill messages, the World Health Organization (WHO) country representative said that the mandate of WHO is to promote health, keep the World safe and serve the Vulnerable in Nigeria.

According to the WHO representatives, the organization has enjoyed the excellent Cooperation of the government of Nigeria at the Federal level, including the 36 States and FCT.

“We have also received overwhelming support and resources from donors, other developing partners, Civil Society Organizations, the academia, private sector, and communities for which we are most grateful,” WHO.