The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has expressed concern about the state of Nigeria’s Primary Health Care System (PHC), saying it is not where it should be in terms of service delivery across Nigeria.
Prime Minister Abbas made the remarks during a training camp for members of the House of Commons Health Services Committee on the theme “Improving health outcomes through effective legislation for primary health care and universal health coverage (UHC)” .
Speakers pledged to address the shortcomings of the PHC system through effective legislation, as set out in the National Health Act 2014, and to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their background or economic situation, have access to high-quality , pointed to the need for a health care system that provides affordable and equitable services. situation.
He also pointed to the challenges faced by the PHC system, including aging infrastructure, shortage of skilled health workers, low demand for services, inadequate funding, and lack of absorptive capacity leading to poor budget execution and return of funds. He also mentioned the challenges faced.
He said these challenges hinder the health system from realizing its full potential, pointing to the important role of effective legislation in shaping and strengthening the health system.
“The retreat aims to address critical issues at the heart of human capital development and well-being, the pursuit of universal health coverage (UHC) through primary health care, and effective legislation to achieve this goal. ”, especially through the collaborative efforts of the executive branch and Congress.
“Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is a vision of a world where everyone, regardless of their background or economic situation, has access to quality, affordable and equitable health services.
“Achieving UHC is not just a noble aspiration. It is a moral obligation and a sound investment in our collective future. Why not? After all, a healthy population is a productive “Poor health hinders individual progress, strains the economy and perpetuates cycles of poverty and underdevelopment,” Abbas said. Ta.
Mr. Abbas also emphasized that primary health care is the cornerstone of UHC, the first line of defense against disease and the gateway to essential health services.
“Very importantly, primary health care is the cornerstone of UHC, the first line of defense against disease, and the package of basic minimum health services set out in the National Health Act 2014. It is the first point of contact for individuals and families seeking care and provides preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services for most health needs.”
Mr. Abbas also noted the need for collaboration among stakeholders, including ministries, ministries and agencies (MDAs), donors, partners, civil society organizations, etc., to achieve universal health coverage.
Source: guardian.ng