Health Commissioners from Nigeria’s 36 states, along with the Mandate Secretary of Health for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have praised the leadership of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) for its handling of recent outbreaks of cholera, diphtheria, and mpox. During their third quarterly meeting in Abuja, the commissioners acknowledged the agency’s efforts but emphasized the need for continued support to the states.
In a communique signed by Dr. Oyebanji Filani, Chairperson of the Nigerian Health Commissioners Forum (NHCF) and Commissioner for Health in Ekiti State, and Dr. Amina El-Imam, Secretary of NHCF and Commissioner of Health in Kwara State, the group reaffirmed their commitment to improving Nigeria’s healthcare system. They commended President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration and his administration’s investment in healthcare.
Highlighting the shortage of skilled healthcare workers as revealed by a recent Human Resources for Health (HRH) assessment, the commissioners stressed the importance of innovative strategies to attract, train, and retain healthcare professionals nationwide. They also discussed the implications of the Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy for primary healthcare (PHC) financing, forming a sub-committee to address this issue in collaboration with the Nigerian Governors Forum and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
The commissioners emphasized the need for sustained preparedness against public health threats and praised the NCDC’s leadership in outbreak management. They committed to holding monthly meetings with the Director General of the NCDC to strengthen surveillance, rapid response, and preparedness across states.
In addition, the commissioners raised concerns about the rising incidence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and renal diseases. They resolved to prioritize NCDs in state health agendas and committed to launching a week-long awareness campaign titled “Know Your Number, Control Your Number” in the last quarter of 2024 to educate the public on NCD prevention and management.
Health financing and universal healthcare coverage (UHC) were also key discussion points, with the commissioners advocating for increased budget allocations at state and federal levels. They pledged to explore alternative funding mechanisms to ensure affordable, quality healthcare for all Nigerians. Collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the World Bank was also discussed as part of efforts to expedite the revitalization of primary healthcare.
The commissioners expressed support for digital health initiatives proposed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, emphasizing the need to leverage data-driven decision-making to enhance healthcare delivery.
In conclusion, the Health Commissioners reaffirmed their collective commitment to improving Nigeria’s health outcomes and called on the private sector, civil society, and other stakeholders to join them in building a healthier and more prosperous Nigeria.
