The Federal Government is set to launch the 2016 National Health Policy. The new policy is meant to deal with new realities and trends including the unfinished agendas of the MDGs and the new SDGs.
It also seeks to handle emerging health issues such as the current outbreak of epidemics, reforming of the PHC governance, the vital aspect of climate change and response to impacts of insurgency on the Nigerian health system.
In his key note address at the pre 59th National Council On Health Meeting, in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole said it was necessary following the new issues evolving.
“There are now other matters that have made the meeting even more important including the recent flare up in polio cases in Borno State, persisting Lassa Fever outbreaks in some states as well as our plans on achieving Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
Adewole who noted that it had been 12 years since a health policy was developed and implemented, explained that the current policy was to build on the existing one as global re-commitments to attaining universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goals are being made.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government was ready to partner with local governments to ensure that functional PHCs are built while establishing clear cut referral systems.
He advised state governments to work out their policy plans as peculiar to their states in order to effectively tackle health issues and improve on socio-economic progress of each state.
