The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 has warned Nigerians not to let their guard down against the scourge of COVID-19 as he stressed that the pandemic is still around as shown in Nigeria and other countries across the globe and the pattern it will take is hard to predict.
Mustapha said this in his Keynote address titled: “Safeguarding Nigeria against the COVID-19 Pandemic: ‘The Journey So Far’ at a two-day Primary Health Care Summit in Abuja”.
The PHC summit, which was organised by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health is aims to attract stakeholders to invest and collaboratively implement a PHC revitalisation strategy for the country.
Mustapha noted that sustained observance of the COVID-19 protocols would enable the country to conquer the variants as there are has been good progress on the country’s vaccination campaign rate.
“While we continue to embrace and implement globally adopted prevention strategies, we advise that you continue to observe the protocols for prevention of the spread of COVID-19, namely hand washing, social distancing, wearing of nose mask (especially in public), among others”.
“Amidst the global shortage of the COVID–19 vaccines, the vaccination drive in the country progressed in different phases, expanding the eligible target population to include all adults aged 18 years and above”.
“Till this day, Nigeria recorded 255,092 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection and 3,142 deaths. When compared with global figures, Nigeria has been able to curtail the spread and detrimental effect of this deadly virus in spite of the overarching challenge of a weakened health system”.
“Over 67.9 million doses of four types of COVID-19 vaccines (AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson) were received through support of the COVAX facility and governments of other countries and we are expecting close to 47 million doses by the end of 2022″.
“Similarly, we have reached over 10 million Nigerians with both first and second doses of the vaccines.’’
“The virus came with challenges but had given the country ample opportunity to invest in its health infrastructure and the Electronic Management of Immunisation Data (EMID) system had strengthened the country’s ability to collect and manage real-time information on COVID-19 vaccination coverage”.
“The system, enabled the country to monitor and make informed decisions on COVID-19 vaccination rate, and the vaccination card that is linked to the EMID system made it easier for Nigerians to resume international travels, reduce travel restrictions and measures such as quarantine and COVID-19 testing upon arrival and at departure”.
“You will agree with me that these digital innovations significantly supported COVID-19 case detection, response, control and management in Nigeria.’’
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said that the country’s goal is to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and it begins with the transformation of PHCs.
Ehanire disclosed that the Federal Government is looking at what works for Nigerians of all ages, wealth and backgrounds and to prevent leakages, we must jointly implement health funding at the federal, state, and local levels.
“We must commit to healthcare systems that satisfy the needs of individuals in communities while also being affordable. The subnational level should shift its focus to investing in PHC.’’
“The underperformance of the health sector in the country was not equal to under-investment, but the PHC Summit aims to address this imbalance and chat the course for more public and private sector collaborations”.
“Government wants to ensure health services that meet the needs of Nigerians as close as possible to where they live at affordable cost throughout their lives.
“We have brought partners, friends, and leaders of thought and government here today to declare that it is time for action in transforming PHCs by engaging communities in health-related social and behavioural change communication in diverse subjects.
“We engage in public, family and personal health and hygiene, nutrition, reproductive, maternal and child health, immunisation and much more.’’
There was the need to develop an appetite for change, a change that directs attention and investment over the next few years to where the current greatest need and gaps are in the health sector of the country.
“This will be at the grassroots level.’’
Nonetheless, Ehanire called for stimulating conversations and commitments toward adopting projects that would transform the country’s PHCs to new specifications and pledges to support schools of nursing or health technology for manpower buildup.
The Chairman of, the Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ibrahim Oloriegbe maintained that Nigeria must address the issue of human resources to get its healthcare right.
According to Oloriegbe: “with what we have, we are not achieving much in healthcare; we must rethink our systems and it starts by removing every bottleneck that hinders effectiveness.
“I have suggested through the legislation that we create special capitalisation of remuneration for health workers just like we have for other sectors that provide essential services in the country.’’
Oloriegbe also told stakeholders at the summit that as we talk about health, we must bear in mind that health does not work in isolation.
“We must consider other social determinants of health such as education, WASH, and electricity to ensure effective healthcare system in the country.’’ He emphasized.
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