Health sector, key driver of economic growth — Health Minister

To restore and improve on the nation’s economic status, this administration has put together a 4year recovery plan with the broad objectives of restoring growth, investment in our people and building a globally competitive economy.

This is why we deem it very important to tag the theme of this year’s NCH to be ‘Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) in the Health Sector: Matters arising.

The Health Minister, Professor Isaac Adewole said this  while delivering his keynote address at the 60th National Council on Health(NCH) meeting  at Abeokuta.

Adewole noted that globally, the health sector was seen as an important driver of economic growth as such there was a correlation between improved health and economic growth. The health minister explained that improvement in health outcomes typically precedes meaningful gains in economic growth and that is why we say health is wealth.

“Undoubtedly, therefore, Investment in the health sector should positively impact on economic growth in Nigeria”

He stressed that to grow and develop the economy sustainably, it was imperative that the government must invest in Nigeria people. This, Adewole said meant improving access to good and affordable healthcare and education, fostering social inclusion, promoting job creation and protecting environment.

The Health Minister also affirmed that the Federal Government was poised to enhancing opportunities for all Nigerians irrespective of gender, age, economic status and physical ability.

Professor Adewole therefore commended the Executive Governor of Ogun State for accepting to host the 60th National Council of Health (NCH) Meeting.

The Executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, while declaring the council open said, “Nigeria had recorded improvement in the health care delivery system but efforts must be scaled up on the health indices pertaining to maternal/ child mortality and emergency health response.

The Health Minister added that the country must also invest more on public health and preventive medicine. He therefore commended the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for stepping up investment on preventive medicine and awareness creation. The Minister opined that most untimely deaths were avoidable if the people could get timely and adequate attention.

The WHO representative in his good will message, commended the Honourable Minister of Health and the Nigerian government for ensuring that national and Global Healthcare practices were adopted in the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria to the benefit its citizenry.

The Health Minister also pledged the support of WHO to Nigeria in their effort to promote health, save lives and serve the vulnerable.

The Ogun state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, in his welcome address informed that the second of the five-point development agenda of Ogun State governor was to provide affordable and quality health.

In view of this, Dr. Ipaye said that the state government had established several Primary Health Centers to provide health services particularly at the grassroots in addition to providing health commodities in over eighty health facilities across the State.