The World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria, has called on the Nigerian government to allocate more public expenditure toward healthcare, aiming to achieve a benchmark investment of US$6 per capita.
Dr Walter Kazadi, the WHO Country Representative, Nigeria, said this on Wednesday in Abuja, at a strategic legislative health retreat, emphasising the pivotal role of legislators in appropriating funds, passing bills, and ensuring their effective implementation.
Kazadi stressed the importance of leveraging their unique functions to improve health outcomes and alleviate poverty.
He, however, urged legislators to utilize their positions to establish health as a fundamental right for all Nigerians, reinforcing government responsibility and mutual accountability.
He also encouraged the documentation of best practices to serve as a reference point for other African countries.
While congratulating the incoming members of the 10th assembly, he emphasized the immense responsibility they carry as the people’s voice.
He highlighted the urgent need to focus on the health sector to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and address the issue of insecurity in the country.
He stressed that healthcare should be elevated in the Constitution and implemented as a commitment by authorities and legislatures.
Drawing from the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, he urged legislators to consider health as a fundamental right, ensuring that all Nigerians have access to healthcare they need without facing financial hardships.
He shared evidence demonstrating that countries achieving universal health coverage through public financing have made significant progress.
He expressed WHO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in repositioning its health system.
He outlined the alignment of this commitment with global frameworks, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and the upcoming high-level meetings in New York.
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He called for collective action to combat tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases, and other emerging health challenges.
Furthermore, he invited legislators to contribute to WHO’s country cooperation strategy, emphasizing their crucial role in accelerating health to achieve the SDG goals.
He, however, commended the leadership of the 9th National Assembly and urged legislators to make some achievements in the health sector.
He expressed his enthusiasm to collaborate with the incoming National Assembly and assured them of WHO’s continued support.
The head of the Association for Reproductive and Family Health, Prof. Oladapo Ladipo, said that the new administration needed to prioritize health and health financing generally in the country.
Ladipo said that the 10th National Assembly needs to mainstream health in the country, noting that health is wealth and education.
“Health should be number two on the priority list of the government and treated as a basic human right for all Nigerians to have access,” he said.
He said that the new legislators should ensure the implementation of laws passed by the 9th assembly, noting that there was a need to change the critical innovating financing for health in the country.
According to him, Tax for the health sector was recommended, such as tax for aeroplane.
There is a need for a mechanism to monitor the use of these funds.
He said that Health should be on the exclusive list of the new administration.
“Free contraceptive services should be made available,” he said.
