Tinubu Administration Should Announce A state Of Emergency In The Healthcare Sector – Representatives

The House of Representatives has called upon the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the health sector and allocate significant funding to it in the 2024 budget proposals…CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This decision came after a motion presented by Representative Fayinka Oluwatoyin (APC-Lagos) during a plenary session in Abuja.

The motion, titled “Need for Collaboration Between the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) and Relevant Health Agencies in States and Local Governments to Ensure the Functionality of Primary Healthcare Centers,” was initiated by Oluwatoyin, who represents Mushin Federal Constituency II in Lagos State.

Oluwatoyin pointed out that Nigeria, as the most populous country in Africa, faces a serious problem of deteriorating health facilities.

He cited data indicating that as of 2020, Nigeria had approximately 39,983 hospitals and clinics, with primary healthcare centers accounting for around 34,000, or 86% of the total.

However, only 20% of these primary healthcare centers are functional, particularly in rural areas that lack proper facilities and staff.

The lack of medical equipment, medicines, qualified personnel, electrical infrastructure, beds, and road networks has contributed to a higher mortality rate in healthcare centers. Oluwatoyin stressed the need for revitalization, including a budget allocation of US$80 million for additional bed spaces.

He also pointed out that the inaccurate representation of primary healthcare centers by the Federal and State Health Ministries hindered proper budgeting and access to quality healthcare in rural areas, often leading to premature deaths.

The House’s resolution includes calling upon the Federal Ministry of Health to encourage states to revive the ailing primary healthcare programs at the grassroots level and to provide high-quality and affordable medical services for the general population.

Furthermore, the House urges the Federal Ministry of Health to collaborate with state ministries, local government authorities, and other stakeholders to create a task force aimed at eliminating severe medical malpractice, particularly in rural areas.

They are also urged to provide the Committee on Healthcare Services with summary reports for evaluating the standards of primary healthcare centers from 2016 to 2022.