•to immunise 2.5m zero dose babies
•to ensure appreciable decline in maternal, child mortality
Country Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo lamented that more Nigerians are falling into poverty due to ill-health while many do not have access to the quality essential health services they need.
Mulombo who expressed the concern in Abuja, during the induction ceremony of the newly appointed State Commissioners of Health across the 36 States of the Federation held at the instance of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), reiterated the Organization’s commitment to work federal and subnational governments in line with WHO’s Country Coordination Strategy (CCS), with a view to ensuring the translation of health policies in this direction into actions.
He observed that the enormous health burden on Nigerian citizens has placed enormous responsibilities upon State Health Commissioners’ “shoulders towards achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health security in Nigeria. Considering the political economy of the country, your position is unique in steering your states in the right direction in line with Federal Government policies and agenda despite the prevailing challenges based on your state-specific contexts.
“The health situation in Nigeria requires uncommon approaches to make a remarkable difference. With the ongoing increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases on the background of high burden of communicable diseases, multiple outbreaks, and the highest out-of-pocket expenditure on health in the region, more Nigerians are falling into poverty due to ill health while many do not have access to the quality essential health services they need.”
While noting that countries have recommitted themselves during the just concluded international conference to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Alma-Ata and the 5th anniversary of Astana declarations on primary health care in Astana Kazakhstan, he tasked the Health Commissioners on the need to make “radical shift towards Primary Healthcare as the foundation of UHC and health security. This indeed entails shifting focus from mere concepts to actions with demonstrable results, for greater resilience in the health sector, even in the face of emergencies.
“As leaders of the health sector very close to the people, it is demanded of you now more than ever, to keep PHC high on the agenda of your governments and ensure priority investment in its development.”
On her part, United States CDC Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Mary Boyd who tasked the State Health Commissioners with the need for a paradigm shift, applauded them for honouring the call for service.
“What you all, we all, have in common is the courage to accept the call to public service despite the sacrifice and for that, I salute you. You are willing to make sacrifices for the honor of serving, the communities from which you were born and raised and are connected.
“Now that you have accepted the call, what next?! Promise to impact! The chief goal must be to have a positive and lasting impact on the health outcomes of the most vulnerable members of our society. One hundred years ago public health was struggling with two essential issues. First was widespread preventable illness and the second was widespread health disparities.
“I wish these were things of the past, but they’re not. Unfortunately, these persist in 21st-century Nigeria, frankly in some parts of the US as well, and globally. But today you have been appointed agents of change in your ecosystem- your visionary leadership, sense of mission, political and persuasive competencies will be needed as you necessarily navigate the intersection of public health and clinical care to improve these health outcomes in your respective states.”
To this end, she reiterated the commitment of the U.S. CDC’s partnership to improve the health and well-being of your communities through science, systems, policy, and public health action.
“I am optimistic that it is on your shoulders that together we will end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat in Nigeria, immunize 2.5 million zero-dose babies, and finally see an appreciable decline in maternal and child mortality.
“I am optimistic that together we will put a dent malaria burden and begin to be more proficient in outbreak response as a standard practice. I look forward to celebrating these milestones with you in each of your states.”
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