WHO Urges Radical Push to Improve Primary Healthcare Services in Nigeria

*Says more Nigerians falling into poverty due to ill health 

*Declares health situation in Nigeria requires uncommon approaches to make remarkable difference 

*Fayemi recommends compulsory medical practice in Nigeria for fresh medical personnel before travelling overseas 

Chuks Okocha and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Amidst concerns over the country’s poor health indicators, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended making a radical shift towards primary healthcare as a means of attaining universal health coverage and health security.
WHO, said with ongoing increase in the burden of non-communicable diseases, multiple disease outbreaks and the highest out-of-pocket expenditure on health in the region, more Nigerians were falling into poverty due to ill health while many do not have access to the quality essential health services they need.

In a message presented by WHO Representative in Nigeria Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, at the induction ceremony of the newly appointed State Commissioners of Health, the organisation said there was need, “to shift focus from mere concepts to actions with demonstrable results, for greater resilience in the health sector, even in the face of emergencies.”

Mulombo, said the health situation in Nigeria required uncommon approaches to make a remarkable difference.
He said: “Rising from the international conference to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Alma-Ata and fifth anniversary of Astana declarations on primary health care in Astana Kazakhstan, last week, countries have recommitted themselves to making a radical shift towards Primary Healthcare as the foundation of UHC and health security.
“This indeed entails shifting focus from mere concepts to actions with demonstrable results, for greater resilience in the health sector, even in the face of emergencies.”

The WHO Representative described the event as critical having been designed to equip the new health leaders with the clear perspectives required for the effective discharge of their duties in line with the renewed hope agenda of this government.
“As leaders of the health sector very close to the people, it is demanded of you now more than ever, to keep PHC high on the agenda of your governments and ensure priority investment in its development,” he added.

He noted that, “with the ongoing increase in the burden of non- communicable diseases on the background of high burden of communicable diseases, multiple outbreaks, and the highest out-of-pocket expenditure on health in the region, more Nigerians are falling into poverty due to ill health while many do not have access to the quality essential health services they need.”

He stressed that  rising from the international conference to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Alma-Ata and 5th anniversary of Astana declarations on primary health care in Astana Kazakhstan, last week, countries have recommitted themselves to making a radical shift towards Primary Healthcare as the foundation of UHC and health security.

Meanwhile, as a way of curbing medical brain drain in Nigeria, former Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has suggested that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) withhold the licences of all medical practitioner for at least three years to enable them practice in Nigeria before travelling out to other country.
He also suggested that the beneficiary countries should pay for the licenced medical practitioners that they would be inheriting.
Fayemi, who delivered a keynote address at the occasion said, “I just talked about health workers. Today this morning I read one newspaper saying 7000 pharmacists have left.

“So my recommendations are not hard shaking. First, for doctors that we have trained, I think we should have health workers’ system known as the National Health Service Scheme for newly licenced health workers.
“That will enable them to spend some time, a fixed period not limited – three to five years. Whilst you’re doing that your licence is held by the Nigerian dental and medical registration board that gives you that licence.

“And once you have served for the period, you can decide you want to stay or you want to leave.
“Also, just as the countries that want to come and recruit doctors from Nigeria, or health workers from Nigeria, you should make them pay for the training as a way of substitution.”