Abuja: Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the essential role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in aiding the government to identify blind spots and realign its health sector reforms. Speaking at a CSO/Media-Led Mid-Year Review of Nigeria’s Health Sector Reforms and Policy Dialogue in Abuja, Pate highlighted the importance of CSOs in providing continuous feedback crucial for translating policies into actionable programs.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Pate underscored that only civil society can offer the necessary feedback to recalibrate reforms, explaining that this input has been instrumental in shaping the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII). He recounted that this initiative emerged from an interim review process led by CSOs, prompting the National Council on Health to endorse a sector-wide partnership involving federal, state, and local governments alongside civil society.
The minister detailed the signing of a Compact commi
tting all stakeholders to collectively enhance health resources and governance, marking a transition from a system-oriented approach to one prioritizing the populace. He highlighted accountability and supply chain management as pivotal reform pillars, noting that CSO participation in monitoring has significantly boosted sector transparency.
On the financial front, Pate credited presidential interventions for enabling states to directly invest in health infrastructure, diverging from the previous model of solely federal-driven health financing. He pointed to the approval of 79 new ambulances toward a goal of 400 and a substantial increase in medical school admissions from 5,000 to 10,800 annually in recent years.
Pate also noted the success of an expanded emergency care program for women, which has supported nearly 60,000 cases over two years, effectively removing financial barriers to accessing caesarean sections during complications. He emphasized that while the federal government plays a role, resources d
irected to states are crucial for addressing healthcare delivery demand gaps.
Acknowledging the enduring challenges due to years of neglect in the health sector, Pate expressed a commitment to developing a healthcare system that meets Nigeria’s needs. The event also honored Sen. Ipalibo Banigo, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), as a Health Champion. Banigo expressed gratitude for the recognition and committed to using her position to further healthcare delivery in the nation.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event gathered health sector stakeholders, CSO representatives, and development partners for the review.