The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared a state of emergency in the health sector.
This is being highlighted as stakeholders from across the sector gather in Ekiti State for the 64th National Council on Health, where key issues in the health sector will be debated.
The opening ceremony on Thursday was an opportunity to set the tone for the theme, which emphasises on resilience and an inclusive healthcare system for a healthy Nigeria.
Dr. Muhammed Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, stated that the nation’s health facilities are in poor condition and that an immediate intervention is required.
The governor of Ekiti state Mr Biodun Oyebanji in his remarks said the state received with great excitement the offer to host the 64th National Council on Health and the prospect of having all the distinguished delegates from across the nation including international stakeholders in health policy development in the state for this agenda setting council meeting.
He said the state has tremendous achievements to showcase in the health sector over the past few years.
The House of Representatives had last month called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the sector and allocate significant votes to it in the 2024 budget.
The call was a sequel to a motion by a Lagos lawmaker Fayinka Oluwatoyin (APC) during a plenary session in Abuja.
In the motion captioned “Need for the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency to collaborate with relevant health agencies in states and Local Governments to ensure the functionality of Primary Healthcare Centres,” the lawmaker representing Mushin Federal Constituency II of Lagos State said Nigeria’s health facilities are dilapidating at a fast rate.
According to him, the shortage of personnel, medical equipment, drugs, and qualified personnel among others, has led to a hike in the death toll in health facilities in the country.