The Federal Authorities has urged group well being officers to undertake telemedicine outreaches in advancing healthcare supply on the grassroots.
Minister of State for Well being and Social Welfare, Dr Adekunle Salako, who made the decision on the fifth Induction Ceremony of Neighborhood Well being Officers (CHOs), organised by the Neighborhood Well being Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria (CHPRBN) in Abuja, urged Nigerians to prioritise healthcare and take energetic measures to forestall ailments.
Salako stated that adopting health-promoting habits like common bodily train, wholesome vitamin, periodic well being standing screening, and diligent self-care are essential to decreasing ailments, incapacity and untimely deaths within the nation.
He famous that although the nation has made strides through the years, the well being system remains to be burdened by challenges resembling workforce shortages, infrastructural gaps, inequitable distribution of assets, energy deficit and excessive dependency on imported merchandise, whereas indices are nonetheless worrisome.
Salako noticed that these challenges are nationwide however are extra intense in rural and underserved communities, the place over 60 per cent of the inhabitants resides and among the many low socio-economic class who are suffering from multidimensional poverty.
He stated, “Our group well being officers are anticipated to function the primary line of defence, the advocates of preventive care, and the custodians of well being training and group mobilisation.
“Your function transcends scientific duties; you’re the bridge between coverage and observe, between authorities initiatives and grassroots realities. Let me reaffirm that your work shouldn’t be merely a occupation however a nationwide calling to safe the well being of Nigerians and contribute to nationwide prosperity.”
The minister famous that the current administration has anchored its well being sector agenda on a diligent implementation of the Well being Act 2014 and the Renewed Hope Agenda to realize Common Well being Protection (UHC).
Based on him, the administration recognises that UHC shouldn’t be a luxurious however a basic proper and has developed the Well being Sector Renewal Funding Initiative to save lots of lives, scale back bodily and monetary ache and produce well being for all Nigerians.
Salako acknowledged {that a} essential ingredient of the technique is the acceleration of the rollout of the Nationwide Main Healthcare Mannequin, which integrates three core pillars of workforce strengthening, infrastructure modernisation, and community-led well being governance. “Central to this mannequin is the deployment, retention, and empowerment of group well being practitioners.”
He noticed that the federal government has initiated insurance policies, together with the revitalisation of 10,000 Main Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and the Nationwide Neighborhood Well being Workforce Technique, to make sure equitable distribution of expert personnel to dismantle the urban-rural divide in healthcare entry, making certain that no Nigerian is left behind.
Salako reiterated the dedication of the ministry to strengthen the regulatory mandates of the CHPRBN and proceed to help the Board to boost Persevering with Skilled Improvement (CPD) programmes to allow group well being practitioners to maintain tempo with world finest observe.
He recognized a strong regulatory framework because the bedrock of high quality care and urged inductees to see their certification not merely as a license to observe however as a covenant with the Nigerian individuals.
Salako tasked the inductees to uphold the belief reposed in them with integrity, innovation, and compassion and reminded them that the success of the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage Authority (NHIA) Act and the administration’s aspiration to enrol 50 million Nigerians into medical health insurance by 2027 will depend on their grassroots mobilisation.
“The federal government’s coverage on UHC is unambiguous; each Nigerian deserves inexpensive and high quality healthcare. Attaining this requires your energetic partnership as frontline ambassadors, who promote preventive care. Allow us to be a part of arms to construct a legacy of well being safety for the present and future generations and be sure that girls, kids, and the aged obtain prioritised consideration always.”
Salako emphasised that the Bola Tinubu administration is passionate and decided to take well being care companies to Nigerians, even within the remotest a part of the nation, including that CHOs are important officers in reaching this.
He assured that the ministry will work with state and native councils to make sure most deployment of CHOs to boost the healthcare supply system.
