By Ibrahim Ladan Wunti
The socio-economic development of any country is linked to the quality of care of its citizens. That has been established for decades. Where the population is sick, the vision for a prosperous country, especially Nigeria’s ambition of becoming among 20 leading economies in the world by 2020 is plummeted in chaos because a sick population cannot derive progress.
Access to basic health care infrastructure and information in Nigeria still remains a mirage. Despite huge oil revenues accrued by the federal government and heavy allocations to States Governments from the Federation Account, the country’s population lack access to basic health care information that will help in behaviour change among key issues with the milieu of the health sector.
The lack or inadequate infrastructure in the health sector has consistently increase the number of maternal and child mortality, it has double the number of malnourished children and health standards largely measured by life expectancy in the country has continued to shrink.
From 2010 to date, the country’s National Bureau of Statistics says maternal mortality rate in Nigeria is on the rise. Mothers hardly see their babies after child birth—and sometimes household lose both the mother and the baby. Many communities in the country, particularly in the larger north, do not have access to Primary Health care facilities.
Where they exists, stock-out in commodities, inadequate trained health care personnel, lack or inadequate gender responsive health facilities and deteriorating road networks connecting communities to the health facilities are among factors responsible for the persistent raise in mortality.
The country’s rising population amid deterioration of the health sector is a cause for concern for everyone everywhere in the country.
In Bauchi state where I live for example, thousands of people have to choose between their daily expenses and health care—largely because of inadequate health care facilities, systemic poverty which poses a barrier for them to access private health clinics.
As an Executive Director whose NGO currently partners international donors in rendering interventions in the health sectors, communities still suffer from lack of access to basic health care infrastructure and still hold onto beliefs, norms and unhealthy cultures towards health due to inadequate information that could change their minds.
The suffering communities face is related to inadequate stewardship, inadequate and inefficient financing, fragmented health service, unequal distribution of health workers, and poor coordination among major stakeholders.
In reviving the health sector which many stakeholders have conceded is not on target, very many different sectors need to come on board to address the systemic imbroglio.
The country needs to go back to its 2004-2007 Health Sector Reform program which highlighted key important objectives that should be implemented in order to address the anomalies in the sector.
I urge donors, philanthropist, government and the private sector to come together to streamline activities that would embolden partners working in the health sector, so that Nigeria would realized this year’s theme: Universal health coverage: everyone everywhere.
Happy Celebrations!
Ibrahim Ladan Wunti is the Executive Director, CIPRHES. He writes from Bauchi and can be reached via +2348036627322
