By Kazeem Akolawole
Health sector stakeholders have appealed to candidates seeking electictive positions in the 2023 general elections to prioritize the sector and make maternal health services free for benefit of the common man.
The stakeholders at a one-day summit organised by the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ) supported by the Partnership for Advocacy In Child and Family Health at Scale (PACFaH@scale), and anchored by the Development Research and Projects Centre (DRPC). equally called for more funding for family planning issues.
The theme for the summit is “Raising voices for more funding for family planning and free maternal health services by incoming political leaders”.
The President of Association of Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) Prof. Oladapo Ladipo, stated that Nigeria government had not prioritized the sector because health issues were not the number one on its agenda, saying that there was need for a change in the narrative.
He called on journalists to help champion the cause by telling the incoming administration to take the health sector seriously and improve on issues with qualities of life and political stability
“Health is a basic human right, when health is absent wisdom cannot manifest itself. Making health a priority as number one or two on government agenda will go a long way to reduce the challenges in the sector.
“Provision of enough fund for the sector is paramount here, women are about 50 per cent of the country’s population. No woman should die in the process of giving birth to another life.
“Maternal death in Nigeria is very shameful; we do not lack the qualities to make things work,” he stressed.
Also, the Chairman, Management Committee, Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP), Dr Ejike Orji who spoke on ‘dangers of not funding family planning in Nigeria’ called for more in the health sector.
He said that there should be a policy thrust to reverse the horrible trend, adding that family planning issues should be a concern for every patriotic Nigerians.
According to him, poor funding could lead to maternal death, and that Nigeria has the highest rate of mortality in the world.
He called on government to recruit more midwives and send them to the rural health facilities for them to perform their functions, and also mobilize the women about family planning programme.
Orji called for good remuneration for midwives per month to get their commitment to work, adding that family planning 2030 commitment of one per cent of the health budget must be made priority at all government level.
Executive Director, International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) Mrs Moji Makanjuola urged journalists to form alliance with all health actors to keep on pushing for change in the health sector
Makanjuola who was represented by Mrs Folu Duke, Director of administration ISMPH stated that journalists are the gatekeepers and the conscience of the people who continue to push for change in the sector.
