HEALTHNEWSNIGERIA: FG NIGERIA TO ADOPT NEW FINANCING MODEL

The Federal Government is to adopt a new
financing model as part of efforts to strengthen the
national health system.
Vice President Yemi Osibanjo disclosed this at a
stakeholders meeting to bring in private
innovations in the health sector on Thursday in
Abuja.
Osibanjo said that the government hopes to pay
particular attention to North East Nigeria as part of
efforts to ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He added that the meeting was designed to get
private sector support for government’s initiative.
The vice president said that the continuous
partnership with private sector players was to
ensure adequate finance and deliver the UHC.
“It is also an opportunity for Nigeria’s health
authorities to highlight some of the challenges in
the sector.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire,
restated government drive towards strengthening
the national health system for effective, accessible
and affordable delivery of basic primary healthcare
services.
Ehanire said that despite the considerable progress
recorded in the country, under nutrition continues to
hamper the attainment of national goals with 37
per cent of children under five years of age stunted.
“Far too many newborns, children, adolescents and
women still die from preventable conditions
annually, especially among poor and vulnerable
communities.’’
He said that the lifetime risk of maternal death
from pregnancy-related causes, which is one in 29
and only about 39 per cent of Nigerian women
receive skilled attendance during childbirth.
“The total fertility rate at 5.5 is high and the
contraceptive prevalence rate among married
women is just 15 per cent.
“Infant and under five mortality are also elevated at
69/1000 and 128/1000 live births respectively.
“In the Northeast, health systems have been
ravaged and healthcare services severely disrupted
following the Boko Haram insurgency.
“This has been particularly devastating with regard
to Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child and
Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), which has also
resulted to an estimated 2.1 million IDPs.’’
Ehanire therefore called for continued partnership
with the private sector so as to finance and deliver
the UHC.
“This Service Delivery Innovation Challenge is
unprecedented, in that, it is the first time the
Nigerian health sector has taken this approach to
private sector engagement.
“The improvement of our reproductive health
indices and development milestones to meet both
national and international targets is a collective
responsibility,” he said.
Ehanire therefore urged all stakeholders to join
hands to ensure good and quality health delivery
among women, children and adults in the country.
The Executive Director, Finance and Strategy,
Sterling Bank, Mr Suleiman Abubakar, restated its
commitment to relentlessly support the health
sector and other critical sectors financially.
“We believe that scaling up innovative solutions for
efficient health systems through public private
partnerships is key to achieving tremendous
advancements and successes in the health sector,”
he said.