The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa has underscored the critical need for robust human resources and health financing in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Dr Alausa made the call during the second National Dialogue on Human Resources for Health, organized by USAID/Nigeria Health Workforce Management (HWM) in Abuja the Nations Capital.
Represented by Prof. Saad Ahmed, the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, Dr. Alausa emphasized that human resources are fundamental to the success of the healthcare sector, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts between stakeholders.
Prof. Ahmed conveyed Dr. Alausa’s message, which lauded the partnership between the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum and USAID/Nigeria Health Workforce Management.
‘The outcome of this dialogue could lead to significant advancements in the Nigerian healthcare system, potentially elevating the nation’s health services to unprecedented levels.’
He noted the resemblance o
f this forum to the National Council on Health, given the representation from various states and federal bodies, making the decisions from this meeting highly consequential for the health sector.
Dr. Alausa outlined a four-point agenda aimed at reforming the healthcare sector, ‘These include the expansion of the healthcare workforce, enhancing healthcare value chains, and strengthening health security.’
He highlighted that achieving Universal Health Coverage requires not only efficient health systems but also a well-trained, motivated, and cost-effective workforce, stressimg the significance of aligning the workforce with other health system components such as infrastructure, funding, and service delivery.
‘We acknowledged the challenges posed by the ongoing brain drain in the health sector, which has left many primary healthcare centers understaffed, the federal government’s efforts to address these issues, including the granting of waivers for recruitment in federal health institutions and initiatives to
double the admission capacity in medical and health sciences programs.
‘These steps are crucial to replenishing the health workforce and ensuring the sustainability of healthcare delivery in the country,’ he added.
In her remark, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Nigeria Representative Dr. Veronica Momoh emphasized the critical importance of investing in Nigeria’s health workforce, she highlighted that the success of Nigeria’s health reforms is heavily reliant on the availability and quality of health workers.
‘There can be no health system without a health workforce. Health workers are central to attaining, sustaining, and accelerating progress on universal health coverage,’ Dr. Momoh stated.
She noted that the ongoing Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, described as the country’s most ambitious health reform in recent years, hinges on empowering and enabling health workers to deliver quality care.
Dr. Momoh also underscored the broader economic benefits of
investing in the health workforce.
‘For every dollar invested in health and creating decent employment for health workers, the potential return is about nine dollars. Now that is called a smart investment.’
She urged Nigeria’s ministries of finance, budget, and economic planning to recognize the significant returns on such investments.
Looking ahead, Dr. Momoh reaffirmed USAID’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen its health workforce.
‘We will continue to invest in the health workforce by working closely with the government, development partners, and other stakeholders, to ensure that all Nigerians have access to quality healthcare.’
Dr. Oyebanji Filani, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services in Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum, emphasized the need for strategic measures to strengthen the health workforce in Nigeria.
Dr. Filani outlined critical areas requiring attention to ensure an effective and motivated health workforce.
‘To enable an
effective workforce in the health sector, we must address key issues within the human resource for health value chain,’ Dr. Filani stated.
He highlighted the importance of producing sufficient health workers domestically and ensuring their equitable distribution across both rural and urban areas.
‘It’s essential that we absorb and distribute these professionals accordingly, considering the unique needs of different environments,’ he added.
Dr. Filani also pointed out the necessity of enhancing the productivity and capacity of health workers. ‘We must implement measures to minimize absenteeism and ensure that our health workers are competent enough to deliver quality care. This includes their ability to adequately diagnose, treat, and refer patients as needed,’ he explained.
The Commissioner further stressed the importance of providing adequate incentives and rewards for health workers.
‘We need to ensure that they are appropriately compensated and that in-service training opportunities are available to k
eep them motivated. This is crucial for maintaining a committed and effective workforce,’ he added.
Dr. Filani called for continued collaboration between the Ministries of Health, Civil Service Commission, and financial authorities to secure adequate funding and retain top talent in the sector.
The theme for the dialogue is Unlocking Financing Opportunities for Human Resources for Health in Nigeria.
Source: Voice of Nigeria