UHC Day 2023: Nigeria holds Policy Dialogue, as President Tinubu unveils Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.

Universal Health Coverage Day (UHC Day) is commemorated on the 12th of December every year. It aims to celebrate the progress towards attaining ‘health for all’ and raise awareness of the need for strong and resilient health systems for achieving universal health coverage.  UHC Day is also used to urge world leaders to deliver on their promises and commitment to achieve UHC and push health system stakeholders to assess their UHC strategies towards making them more robust and effective. This year’s celebration with the theme, “Health for All: Time for Action” calls for specific actions focused on health systems resilience and urged leaders to enact policies that guarantee equitable access to essential health services without financial hardship.

As part of activities to commemorate UHC Day in Nigeria, the Federal Government unveiled its Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative. The activities celebrating UHC Day in Nigeria started with a policy dialogue organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with Nigeria UHC Forum, a civil society coalition held in Abuja on Monday 11th December. It had in attendance the Executive Governor of Gombe State, His Excellency Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya,  the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammed Ali Pate, and His counterpart the Honorable Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the  Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency NPHCDA, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health, Honorable Commissioners of Health, Director Health Planning Research and Statistics FMOH,  a representative of Nigeria Governors Forum who Joined virtually, including other Chief Executives of various Agencies.

Also in attendance were the WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Molumbo, and the Country Representative of UNICEF Dr. Cristian Munduate, among several other key heads of development partners both multi and bilateral, as well as critical stakeholders in the health space including representatives of civil society organizations who participated as in-person and virtual, as well as the media.

In her welcome comment, the chair of the Nigeria UHC Forum, Chief Mrs. Moji Makanjuola explained that the Nigeria UHC Forum is a coalition of a wide array of stakeholders, including donor agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, and the media which committed to taking advantage of the policy window created by the political transition to move UHC and health security on the political front burner. The forum has partnered with the global policy think-tank, Chatham House UK.

She further stressed that the Forum is collaborating with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare to contribute to the policy-making process in the country’s health sector.  They appealed to the Honorable Minister to consider setting up an Inter-ministerial Committee on Innovative Financing for translating knowledge, and additional resources for health.

Mrs. Moji emphasized the potential for the country to lead not only in confronting pandemics but also in making accelerated progress toward UHC.

The Country representatives of the WHO and UNICEF in their separate remarks reiterated their commitment to support the new strategic blueprint for the health sector in Nigeria to achieve UHC by 2030; emphasizing that UHC is first and foremost a political choice.

His Excellency Governor Inuwa Yahaya who was one of the panelists at the event used the opportunity to showcase Gombe’s remarkable strides in healthcare and the State’s resolute commitment to ensuring the well-being of its citizenry and driving progress toward universal health coverage.

Governor Inuwa mentioned the recruitment of qualified healthcare workers to bridge the human resource gap and, the establishment of essential agencies like the Hospital Management Board, Drug Management Agency, and Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (Go-Health) including the extensive revitalization of primary healthcare facilities across the state’s 114 wards to ensure grassroots health coverage among others.

He emphasized the necessity of stakeholder synergy to achieve UHC. “We must have a synergy of all stakeholders, we must look inwards to fill the gaps, and we must double our efforts to cover the lost ground”, he said.

The Governor promised to escalate some of the issues raised at the event with his colleagues in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Also Speaking, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, in his address called for substantial investments to boost the 30,000 Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in the country. According to him, the 1% of the Consolidate Revenue Fund for the BHCPF is not enough to fund the 30,000 PHCs in the country, calling for an increase in the percentage of the Fund.

On his part, the Executive Director, of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina stated that the agency is committed to ensuring that every ward in the country has a functional PHC fully equipped with a skilled workforce, necessary tools, and stable power supply among others.

Dr Muyi shared plans for the agency for the next four years, saying that the agency would also prioritize the quality of care, actively listen to the people in the field, and rely on partnerships with stakeholders.

Speaking on the status of health financing and the new strategic vision for the health sector, Dr Chris Isokpunwu, Director of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics, at FMOH, said to address health issues in the country, there is a need for adequate funding.

According to him, the Basic Healthcare Provision Sector-Wide Approach required a collaborative resource pooling among partners to enhance the quality and accessibility of health services and reduce the country’s high rate of health indices.

The second activity was held on the 12th of December, started with a road walk to commemorate 2023 UHC Day, led by the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare and other dignitaries, including CSOs and the media; followed by the formal unveiling of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the signing of the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative Compact Agreement by Federal, State Governments, and Development Partners.

While delivering his address, the President said “Delivering improved quality health is an underpinning factor in his promise of Renewed Hope to Nigerians. That hope is ignited here today with the support of all multilateral partners and agencies; health is back on the front burner.

This occasion marks an opportunity for collective reflection and action as we recommit ourselves to the noble pursuit of health for all. The theme for this year ‘Health for All: Time for Action’ encapsulates the urgency and the determination with which we must approach this noble goal.

According to Mr. President Health is not merely the absence of disease but the embodiment of physical, mental, and social well-being. It is a fundamental human right and Nigeria’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Care Coverage is reflected in the unwavering dedication of my administration to uphold this right for every individual, young or old, in rural or urban areas.

Highlighting several key policy actions of the administration in the health sector, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate explained that the BHCPF has been redesigned as the foundational basis for a sector-wide approach.

The Minister outlined plans to double the number of fully functional PHCs from 8,809 to 17,618 by 2027 across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that these PHCs will be linked to a comprehensive emergency care system.

Emphasizing the importance of transparent reporting, Prof. Pate stated that the federal government will make resource allocation, releases, and results transparent to all stakeholders, including government bodies, non-governmental partners, civil society organizations, and citizens.

He noted that the increased allocation in the proposed 2024 budget for health and social welfare sectors has demonstrated the political will of the present administration to achieve UHC and improve the health of Nigerians.

Other dignitaries who spoke at the event including the Director General of the WHO Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus while delivering his special remark online commended the government of Nigeria for the political choice of aspiring to achieve UHC through the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative; saying launching the initiative could be a turning point for Nigeria and Africa. 

“The scale of your ambition is a model for other countries and if implemented, it will send a powerful message throughout the continent that UHC is possible and can be done. If a country as large and complex as Nigeria can achieve UHC, then any country can, He said.

UHC is a political choice, but it is not a choice that’s made just on paper. It must be met in the budget and policy decisions inside and outside the health sector.

The Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Mr AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq affirmed the total commitment of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the implementation of the signed Compact towards Universal Health Coverage for all Nigerians.

The NGF secretariat will move to provide support in tracking and implementing the outcomes of this Compact. I affirm the commitment of the NGF and to remain steadfast in its determination to make Universal Health Coverage a reality for every Nigerian He said.

Contributed by Philip Akoso| LISDEL