During a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Joint Annual Health Review, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on November 6, 2024, Coordinating Minister for Health & Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, made this announcement.
In attendance were various health stakeholders, including State Commissioners of Health, local government representatives, development partners, and international organizations. Prof. Pate revealed that the Ministry has successfully met 31 out of 41 key performance indicators (KPIs) related to Presidential Commitments and is on track to exceed its targets for the year.
To support this, the Coordinating Minister provided detailed figures and statistics, stating, “Through the PHC 2.0 reform, we have prioritized equity by distributing financial and human resources to over 8,000 primary healthcare centers. A total of 45 billion Naira has been directly allocated to states, ensuring that resources reach our communities. Additionally, with the assistance of our partners, we have secured over 3 billion dollars in supplementary funding, including 2.1 billion dollars that enhances the Federal Government's initiatives…”
Regarding capacity building in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pledge to strengthen the health workforce, Prof. Pate noted that the Ministry aims to retrain 120,000 frontline health workers, with 40,000 already trained, surpassing this goal through the SWAp Coordinating Office.
The Coordinating Minister also highlighted that over 2,600 healthcare facilities are in advanced stages of revitalization, with plans to upgrade an additional 2,000 facilities to ensure primary healthcare centers operate effectively.
All states have successfully developed and implemented their Annual Operational Plans (AOPs), which have helped identify existing gaps and pave the way for future collaborations with partners aimed at improving population health outcomes.
In discussing the State of Health Report, the Coordinating Minister highlighted that notable advancements have been made in the areas of healthcare affordability and insurance coverage.
"Further efforts are necessary to ensure that quality healthcare is both accessible and affordable for all Nigerians. The Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority is diligently working to improve the quality of care and the overall user experience, and we acknowledge that there is still much work ahead," Prof. Pate stated.
Addressing the challenges that require immediate attention, he pointed out issues such as routine immunization rates, the prevalence of zero-dose children, malnutrition, and elevated stunting rates.
"In light of these findings, particularly concerning the high maternal mortality rate, we have pinpointed 174 local governments across Nigeria that account for 50% of maternal deaths. To tackle this issue, we have initiated the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Investment Initiative. This initiative underscores our commitment to reducing maternal mortality, and with our current momentum, I am confident that we can achieve this goal," the Coordinating Minister elaborated.
Representing the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodinma stated, "The responsibilities of the Nigerian Governors have been clearly defined, and I assure my esteemed colleagues, the Honourable Ministers, and all stakeholders that we are committed to meeting our obligations. We anticipate the same level of dedication from our partners."
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| L-R: Permanent Secretary FMoH&SW, Kachollom Daju mni; Senator Banigo Ipalebo, Chairman Senate Committee on Health; Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Hon. Minister of State FMoH&SW; Coordinating Minister for Health & Social Welfare Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; Chairman Progressive Governors & Executive Governor Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma; Dr. Tunji Alausa, Hon. Minister of Education & HRM (DR) Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Epe Division, Lagos State: @ the Opening ceremony of the Joint Annual Review Conference/Meeting. |
Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Hon. Minister of State for Health & Social Welfare, emphasized the significance of accountability, monitoring, and evaluation in fulfilling the objectives of the Sector-wide Approach.
He stated, "As a vital accountability mechanism, we will utilize the JAR to enhance multi-sectoral coordination and establish clear priorities for the upcoming year, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned with national health objectives."
In her introductory remarks, Permanent Secretary Daju Kachollom mni highlighted that the JAR serves as an essential platform for stakeholders to evaluate the progress of the health sector within the Sector Wide Approach.
"This encompasses key accomplishments in the Nigerian Health Sector Strategic Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and initial insights from the Annual State of Health Report and the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2023," the Permanent Secretary noted.
Senator Banigo Ipalibo Harry, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, representing the National Assembly, expressed her confidence in the accountability framework of the JAR, stating, "It ensures accountability at all levels for stakeholders, government, politicians, and the community."
In his goodwill message, Dr. Walter Molumbo, World Health Organization (WHO) Country Director, praised Nigeria's advancements in healthcare, emphasizing, "The JAR presents a unique opportunity to bolster primary care by unifying systems under a single cohesive plan and budget. We are here to assess our progress and chart our future direction."