Cross river: Federal health authorities have recognized Sokoto, Jigawa, Zamfara, Taraba, Delta, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory as the leading regions in implementing the resolutions agreed upon at the 2024 Council on Health meeting.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Kamil Shoretire, Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, presented the implementation status report during the 66th Council on Health meeting in Cross River. The meeting, themed ‘My Health, My Right: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage Through Equity, Resilience and Innovation,’ brought together various stakeholders to evaluate progress and identify gaps within Nigeria’s health sector.
Shoretire highlighted that states such as Abia, Kogi, Bauchi, Enugu, and Osun showed slower progress in implementing the resolutions compared to those with stronger overall capacities. He detailed that Sokoto led the rankings, followed by Jigawa, Zamfara, Taraba, Delta, the Federal Capital Territory, and Plateau, whereas Kebbi, Abia, Kogi, Bauchi, Enugu, and Osun were positioned lower.
He recalled that the council meeting in Maiduguri sanctioned 58 memos aimed at enhancing the health workforce, boosting nutrition, refining primary healthcare services, and advancing maternal and child health across the states. However, Shoretire cautioned that several states continued to struggle in converting approved resolutions into actionable programs, emphasizing that this ongoing gap hindered progress and undermined targets aimed at improving health outcomes nationwide.
Shoretire attributed the slow progress to challenges arising after state budgets were finalized, poor dissemination, weak advocacy, and funding constraints. He stressed the importance of improved coordination and adequate resources to bolster implementation efforts.
He urged states to collaborate with academic institutions, research bodies, and policy experts to enhance implementation, and encouraged commissioners for health to intensify advocacy so that resolutions gained necessary attention and funding across all levels.