Health

UITH doctor decries low health indices in Nigeria

 

Former National President of the Association of Public Health Physician of Nigeria (APHPN), Prof Tanimola Akande,   has decried the low health indices in Nigeria.

Hence, he called for political will in the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage for all Nigerians.

Akande made the assertion  recently at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), during the celebration of the World Health Day 2019, themed: “Health for all, Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere”.

In his paper presentation entitled: “Basic Health care provision fund: tool to achieving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria”, he said such political will ensure health care for Nigerians everywhere a reality.

He observed that the health indices in Nigeria is still low, saying that there is 576 Nigerians to about 100,000 physicians which contributes to 30 percent of global burden.

Akande, who teaches at the Department of Epidemiology of University of Ilorin, pointed out that Nigeria’s health care system still contends with low service delivery, poor infrastructure and equipment maintainance.

He noted that in the country’s tertiary hospitals, there is about 1.4 beds to 10,000 Nigerians, while in general hospital, there is four beds to 10,000 people and two to three beds to 10,000 patients at the primary health care state.

According to him, in accessing essential medicines, essential drugs availability in Nigeria is only 44.1 percent and vaccine availability is 76.5 percent.

The expert in public health observed that there is insufficient operational funds to the frontline workers, adding that healthcare finance is mostly out of pockets as only five percent of Nigerians are covered by the health insurance.

Speaking earlier at the occasion, Dr Uthman Mubashir, Consultant Public Health Physician, at the UITH warned of the high maternal mortality rate in the country.

He said millions of people have no access at all to healthcare, while millions more are forced to choose between health care and other daily expenses such as food, clothing and home.

Mubashir stated that health is a fundamental human right to everyone and a most important worldwide social goal.

He urged the government at all levels to raise adequate funds for health and ensure access to quality health care regardless of ability to pay and protect people from catastrophic health expenditure.

Speaking also, Dr Michael Oguntoye,  Director Primary Health care Systems, Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, explained that government have introduced efforts at revitalising the Primary Health Care (PHC).

He noted that primary health care reform agenda driven by the Federal Government seeks to reverse the fragmentation of the PHC delivery at Sub-national levels by centralising PHC management, human resources, financing and operational responsibilities under one state primary health care board.

Oguntoye said:” Primary health care under one roof, was introduced to address issues of governance and accountability and improve the implementation of PHC.

“Until the strategies are ruthlessly executed, Universal Health Coverage will remain a mirage,” he said.

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