The World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with all 36 state governors, is set to formalize a compact agreement, focusing on elevating healthcare service delivery across the country.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State addressed newsmen on Thursday, sharing this information at the conclusion of the National Economic Council meeting. The meeting, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, was chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The council arrived at the decision to sign an agreement with the WHO after a presentation on Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Programme by Prof. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
According to his explanation, the presentation covers the spectrum of challenges in the health sector, including financing, human capital, and a supervisory outlook.
He clarified that the presentation provides a comprehensive overview of challenges in the health sector, encompassing financing, human capital, and a supervisory standpoint.
He further added that the presentation evaluated leadership at every level, starting from the presidency to local tiers, emphasizing the crucial role of governors and local governments in prioritizing the health sector.
Read also: How Ill Health Is Pushing More Nigerians Into Poverty – WHO
The governor emphasized the vital role of the health sector, stating that without its care, the country’s necessary technological development might be compromised.
‘So there was a resolution of the council that the World Health Organisation is coming on December 15, and all the governors will come and sign a compact agreement in terms of service compact.’
‘Governors will be able to reiterate our determination to approach the health sector in terms of budgeting, given the required impetus and the required attention that it deserves.’
‘The National Economic Council received a presentation from the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare on Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Programme, which looked at and dissected a very robust sector scan on health.’
‘From tertiary to the primary level, looking at all the gaps, the problems and challenges of funding, and even the need for renewed interest by stakeholders, mostly governors at the subnational level, experts, doctors, and everybody.’
‘And of course, the Renewed Hope agenda that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is trying to establish in trying to bring synergy and collaboration between all the various stakeholders in the country.’
‘And they are trying to make sure that they establish a compact in a manner that we will be able to generate resources from everywhere.’
The governor said that after the presentation by the minister, suggestions were made on how to generate resources from taxes in communications and on airlines, as well as taxes from the state government, to bridge the gap.
‘Certainly, we have a huge problem with human capital and the need to develop a strategy to retain our own experts to take care of our own health sector.’