The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has decried the high dependence on importation of health goods in the African region.
Ehanire said this at the ongoing 72nd session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee for Africa taking place in Lome, Togo.
He said there was the need to increase the manufacturing capacity in Africa.
In a press statement signed by the Deputy Director/Head, Media and Publicity of the Federal Ministry of Health, Ahmadu Chindaya, had the minister quoted, “The journey so far has not been easy for the sub-region due to high dependence on imported goods and the impact of COVID-19 on overseas manufacturers, which has caused soaring prices and the shortages of goods, where Africa is at the bottom of the priority list for commodities and vaccines. Africa must increase regional manufacturing capacity of essential health items.”
Ehanire noted that Nigeria is working hard to strengthen public health security for better preparedness for future challenges and improve routine health care towards achieving Universal Health Coverage, despite just recovering from the COVID-19.
Similarly, in preparedness for current and future challenges, the minister said, “Nigeria has improved and expanded its public laboratory networks, intensive care units, isolation centres and increased oxygen production capacity to build back better.
“The government under the health sector reform is increasingly improving its services and capacity especially under the Primary Health Care, crowning it with signing of the new National Health Insurance Authority, which makes health care insurance mandatory.”