UNICEF urges collaborative effort between federal, state authorities to tackle health sector issues
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria to work together to address the many challenges facing their health system.
The UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Mrs Rownak Khan, made this statement during the induction of the newly appointed Health Commissioners in Nigeria. The event, themed “Navigating Health Leadership: From Promise to Impact,” took place in Abuja.
Khan emphasized that effective collaboration between federal and state levels was fundamental for the type of leadership needed to effectively and sustainably address the numerous health system challenges in Nigeria.
She stressed that UNICEF firmly believed that genuine progress would be hard to achieve unless there was alignment in policies and their implementation between national and subnational entities.
Khan noted that with a new government in office, this was the opportune time to envision a revitalized health sector aimed at enhancing performance and achieving better outcomes.
“So far, the signals coming from the coordinating minister of health and social welfare and from various health commissioners indicate that the new dispensation brings with it a unique opportunity for innovation and efficiency in responding to the many challenges facing the health sector.”
“We look forward to the concretization of government’s strategic direction in the health sector, especially the Sector Wide Approach (SWAP) proposed by the coordinating minister as a way of maximising the impact of development assistance to the country,’’ she said.
Khan committed UNICEF’s assistance to the federal and state health ministries in order to expand, execute, and monitor this policy and other initiatives effectively.
“One of UNICEF’s foremost priorities is the strengthening of Primary Health Care. We recognize that a robust primary healthcare system is the bedrock of a nation’s health infrastructure.”
“It is the gateway to improving maternal and child health outcomes, nutrition, and immunization coverage.”
“We stand ready to provide technical expertise, capacity building, and resources to help the commissioners revitalize and fortify your primary healthcare facilities.”
“We support the vision of Prof. Pate to ensure that healthcare services are accessible, affordable, and equitable, reaching even the most remote and underserved communities,’’ she said.
Dr. Mary Boyd, the Country Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control Nigeria (USCDC), urged the commissioners to leverage their roles to make a meaningful and enduring difference in the health outcomes of the most marginalized individuals in society.