The Federal Ministry of Health revealed that the review of the national health policy to align it with the targets and goals of member states of the United Nations under the newly launched Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has begun.
The Head of Child Health at the Ministry, Dr. Bose Adediran, in Abuja on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH).
He described the national health policy as Nigeria’s overall policy in healthcare delivery, also spoke of a new guideline developed by the Ministry to determine, among others, the causes of death in women. This, according to her, is to ensure prevention and better delivery of service. Also, stakeholders in the health sector have intensified calls for the Federal Government to commit 15 per cent of national budget to finance the health sector.
Advocacy Advisor at Evidence for Action Project, Esther Agbon, said ”Commitment were also made in 2012 at the London Summit to increase funding for family planning from US $3 million to an additional US$8.35 and in 2014, the National Health Act was signed into law requiring government to commit at least 1% additional funds from consolidated revenue fund to the health sector. This clearly tells us that while there is need for additional funds to the health sector, the government must find innovative ways to ensure the sector is adequately funded.”
She warned that if 80 per cent of the budget is allocated to recurrent expenditure and only 20 per cent to capital expenses, Nigerians should not expect much to happen in the health sector.
