Reps urge FG to declare state of emergency in health sector
Declare state of emergency in health sector
The House of Representatives has requested that the Federal Government declare a state of emergency in the health sector and dedicate significant resources to it in the budget estimates for 2024.
This was in response to a motion made by Fayinka Oluwatoyin (APC-Lagos) at plenary in Abuja.
The motion’s title was, “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.”
Oluwatoyin, a member representing Mushin Federal Constituency II in Lagos State, stated that Nigeria, with the greatest population in Africa, has disturbingly high rates of deteriorating health facilities.
He stated that Nigeria is expected to have approximately 39,983 hospitals and clinics by 2020, with primary healthcare centers accounting for approximately 34,000, or 86%.
However, he claims that just 20% of these primary healthcare centers are operational, particularly in rural areas without proper facilities and manpower.
He claimed that a shortage of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, qualified employees, electrical systems, beds, and road networks had raised the death toll in healthcare facilities.
This, he claims, requires revitalization with a US$80 million budget for more bed spaces.
He stated that improper representation of primary healthcare centers by the Federal and State Health Ministries obstructed proper financing and access to quality healthcare in rural areas.
According to him, this frequently results in premature deaths.
In its decision, the House advised the Federal Ministry of Health to encourage states to resurrect dormant primary healthcare programs at the grassroots level.
It encouraged the ministry to likewise deliver quality and cheap Medicare to the general public.
The House additionally commended the Federal Ministry of Health, in partnership with state ministries, local governments, and other stakeholders, to form a task force to combat severe medical misconduct.
This, he added, should be done especially in remote areas, and summary reports should be provided to the Committee on Healthcare Services in reviewing the standards of primary healthcare centers from 2016 to 2022.
