Gom Mirian
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged the National Council on Health (NCH) to adopt innovative strategies for engaging the Federal Ministry of Health and States to enhance performance and effectively track the implementation of council resolutions.
This call was made on Thursday by WHO’s representative in Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, during the 64th National Council on Health meeting in Abuja, with the theme, ‘Building Resilience and Inclusive Healthcare System for a Healthy Nigeria.’
Dr. Mulombo emphasised the importance of collaboration and inclusivity in achieving this goal, while highlighting the NCH’s role as the highest health decision-making body in Nigeria. He also stressed the need for innovative approaches to engage all relevant stakeholders.
He noted that “with the burden of out-of-pocket expenditure on health, which is the highest in the region, a growing burden of non-communicable diseases on the background of high burden of communicable diseases, high maternal and childhood mortality rates, an unpredictable landscape in terms of multiple health emergencies, and a growing population, the health sector in Nigeria certainly requires an uncommon reform.
“It is heart-warming that Nigeria has prioritized primary healthcare and health financing as accelerators towards achieving UHC and the SDGs.
“My expectation therefore is for this NCH to leverage on the strengths and opportunities of each tier of government to come up with feasible, less complex, and sustainable strategies that will work for the Federal and State Governments, in overcoming these challenges under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme.”
Dr. Mulombo emphasised the significance of tracking the implementation of council resolutions to ensure accountability and effectiveness, while urging the NCH to explore new methods of engagement and communication to promote transparency and ensure that resolutions are implemented promptly.
The WHO representative commended the efforts of the NCH in driving health policies and programs in Nigeria and reiterated his organisation’s commitment to supporting the country in building a resilient and inclusive healthcare system that caters to the health needs of all Nigerians.
