Mustafa Abubakar
12 January 2009
Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Oshoti-mehin has identified access to finance and health care as components necessary to move Nigeria's health services forward.
The Minister said this in Ilorin when he paid a courtesy visit to Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki..Prof. Oshoitemehin, who was in the state to access the level of progress of the Community Health Insurance Scheme in Shonga, explained that only adequate provision for health financing could effectively address the problems of health the sector in Nigeria.
He observed that Kwara State Government has demonstrated that this is possible and achievable through its community Health Insurance Scheme in Shonga.
He said that the scheme is achieving the desired results, and that it has continued to inspire people in medical profession to ensure that resources are provided for healthcare and health financing in Nigeria.
He emphasized the need for government at all levels to vigorously pursue primary healthcare as it pertains to over 70% of the entire population.
"It is only when these issues are resolved at primary care level where people would have physical access to healthcare centres that we will have relieved considerably the health burden of Nigeria", the minister said.
Drawing from his experience at NACA before becoming a minister, Prof. Oshotimehin stressed the need for his ministry to work with state governments in order to make a difference in the way health is delivered in the country.
While congratulating Dr Saraki on the success story of the Community Health Insurance Scheme in Shonga, the minister appealed to him to persuade his colleagues to make primary healthcare the bedrock of the nation's health sector.
He also pleaded for cooperation from state governors and chairmen of local government councils in the country in the area of primary healthcare to achieve qualitative services.
Executive Director of Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Mohammed Bate spoke on behalf of himself and his counterpart for National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Dogo Mohammed. Dr Bate commended the state government on the Community Health Insurance Scheme and called for collaboration with Federal Government to expand the scheme. He also appealed for mobilization of more resources to provide qualitative healthcare delivery services.
Responding, Dr Saraki promised to be a good ambassador in advocating good health policies for the country and expressed appreciation to President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for the choice of Prof. Oshotimehin as Health Minister, describing his appointment as a round peg in a round hole.
He told the minister that the state government is in collaboration with council chairmen on the provision of qualitative healthcare services in the state.
"While calling for an approach to permanently address healthcare problems in the country, Dr Saraki solicited Federal Government's support to sustain the Malaria-Free Programme in the state and assured the minister of his desire to collaborate with the ministry
Speaking to Journalists when he took over the mantle of leadership in the health sector, Osotimehin had revealed that he and his team would focus attention on reviving routine immunization so as to curb the spread of the virus.
He added that the idea of periodic immunization has not helped to salvage the situation in the past and so another strategy has to be implemented which will be capable of sustaining the distribution of the vaccine across the country.
According to him the primary health care centres will have to be strengthened as they were the tools which would sufficiently handle vaccines and resolve 70% of the disease burden which is rooted in rural communities.
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