Nigeria convenes its 4th Annual Legislative Summit on Health to confer on UHC and Health Security

The Legislature in Nigeria has shown commitment to the country’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) objectives. Through its Legislative Network for UHC (LNU) – a platform of lawmakers and key stakeholders in the health sector – the Legislature has implemented key Legislative interventions that have better placed Nigeria on the path to achieving UHC and in the provision of quality healthcare services in the country.

The LNU, since its launch and inception in 2017 has brought together lawmakers from across the country both at the national and subnational levels to brainstorm and proffer legislative solutions to health challenges in the country by leveraging on their statutory functions.

The LNU’s Annual Legislative Summits on Health convened by the National Assembly; four of which have been held since 2017, form one of its platforms of interaction to effectively address paramount issues in the health sector. A major key deliverable from the Summits is the Legislative Health Agenda (LHA), which is a national actionable workplan developed by the Legislators to address challenges peculiar to respective states.

The 4th Annual Summit with the theme “UHC and Health Security: Two Sides of a Coin for an Efficient Health System” held on Sunday 23rd through Tuesday 25th May, 2021, on the recognition that though the country has taken giant strides in its pursuit of UHC; the achievements can be quickly eroded as a result of health security situations. The modalities and mechanisms to ensure that health security is prioritized and at the same time, the country’s UHC pursuit is not hindered formed the fulcrum of discussions during the Summit.

Distinguished Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health as well as the Chairman of the LNU and other members of the LNU in the National Assembly held a press briefing prior to the Summit. They highlighted the importance of the Summits which have become a rallying point of learning, interaction and agenda setting for legislators and other key actors in the health sector across Nigeria.

In his remarks during the opening ceremony, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo represented by the Honourable Minister of State, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora emphasized the importance of preparedness, diagnosis and response mechanism during public health emergencies, while ensuring that there is continuity of routine services such as immunization, family planning and keeping sight of other diseases such as malaria.

He also emphasized that there must be dedicated funds set aside which can be made available for response activities whenever there is a public health emergency like the currently ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

The Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Ahmad Lawan who was represented by Senator Sabi Abdullahi the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, declared the Summit opened. In his remark, he pointed out that the state of the health system is presently weak to cope with the currently ravaging pandemic; and that the Summit has presented opportunities for review.

Other dignitaries including the Co-Chair of the Development Partners’ Group and other key partners in the health sector praised the efforts of the legislators and promised their continued support to the LNU in the achievement of its strategic objectives.

The Summit which was funded and conducted in partnership with the European Union, World Health Organisation (WHO), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and a few others,  featured strategic technical sessions delivered with presentations, panel discussions, plenary discussions and break-out sessions. The technical sessions centered around generating additional funding for health through sin taxes, current disease burden, BHCPF implementation, ending TB in Nigeria, epidemic preparedness, HCD and UHC linkages and appraising and reviewing the national LHA to further strengthen legislative interventions in the health sector.

Some key recommendations and resolutions made during the Summit include

1. Ensuring conduct of regular oversight towards achieving UHC in all health agencies.
2. Ensuring innovative funding mechanisms to increase funds availability to the health sector
3. Ensuring that state health insurance budgets are first line charges
4. Ensuring regular release of funds to State Health Insurance Agencies
5. Working towards increase of health financing to 15% in State appropriations and advocating for releases of funds for health financing.
6. Working with the Executive Arm of Government, the private sector, development partners, and civil society organizations towards ensuring that every citizen is able to access a full-range of health services at all levels.
7. Facilitating Legislative processes for the establishment of State Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
8. Adding TB as an important political health agenda in each State by appropriating for it and working with partners in ending TB in country.
9. Liaising with the Offices of the State Governors and/or their Deputies to promote Human Capital Development.

Members of the LNU additionally committed to ensuring the full implementation of the Legislative Health Agenda (annual workplan) developed during the Summit.

Written by: Ademuyiwa Damilola

Edited by: Juliana Aribo – Abude

Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL)