From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to adopting a results-oriented approach aligned with the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), aimed at reducing out-of-pocket expenditure and the financial hardship caused by healthcare costs.
Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, made this statement during a Ministerial Press Briefing organized by the Ministry to commemorate the 2024 Universal Health Coverage Day, themed “Health On The House Government.”
Speaking on Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp), Prof. Pate highlighted that the Federal Government remains steadfast in its plans to expand healthcare coverage for Nigerians and shift the financial burden from individuals to the government.
Regarding health insurance, Prof. Pate confirmed that an additional 2 million people had been enrolled, bringing the total number of insured lives to 8 million.
He said, “Our administration has increased the number of lives enrolled in Health Insurance by 14% as of Q3 2024. This is a modest yet significant addition of 2 million people in less than a year, bringing the total to 8 million insured lives. Since the scheme’s launch in 2005, if we had enrolled 2 million people each year, we would have 40 million Nigerians with health insurance coverage today.”
Prof. Pate further emphasized that N45.9 billion has been disbursed through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to assist indigent and vulnerable Nigerians in accessing medical care without the burden of immediate payment.
“The equity funds provided by state governments support care for indigent citizens who are most in need. These funds complement social sector interventions targeting vulnerable groups,” the Minister stated.
On the subject of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) and cancer treatment centers, Prof. Pate disclosed the government’s plan to enhance support for target groups whose insurance premiums are high.
“As of October 2024, we had successfully performed 879 obstetric fistula repairs across 19 centers in the country, with a target of 2,500 repairs before the end of the year. This has helped restore the quality of life and dignity for our women,” he explained.
In terms of facility upgrades and improving the health workforce, Prof. Pate revealed that 238 facilities had been upgraded to functional level 2, with an additional 320 facilities in the process of being upgraded. He also highlighted that 53,000 out of 120,000 frontline workers had been retrained, and efforts are being made to increase the training capacity of health institutions to produce more skilled health workers.
To combat maternal mortality, Prof. Pate noted that the government is revitalizing primary healthcare facilities across the country to ensure the successful rollout of the Maternal Mortality Innovation Initiative (MAMI). Additionally, the government launched free caesarian sections for women in need, which was introduced during the Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review in November.
**Other Population Health Outcomes Highlighted by Prof. Pate include:**
– A 16.7% reduction in under-five mortality (from 132 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 110 per 1,000 live births in 2023)
– A significant reduction in infectious diseases: 40% decrease in diarrheal diseases, 24% in tuberculosis, 12% in HIV/AIDS, and a marginal increase in malaria cases
– Successful government and partner-led efforts in interrupting the transmission of neglected tropical diseases, including Onchocerciasis in 8 states, with 29 million people no longer requiring annual treatment.
The press briefing was attended by key development partners, including the WHO, the Nigeria Universal Health Coverage Forum, and Health Development Partners/FCDO.
