Health emergencies: Nigeria can not continue to depend on development partners – NGF

Nigeria can not continue to depend on international development partners to respond to healthcare emergencies, the Nigeria Governor's Forum (NGF) says.

Gov. Kayode Fayemi, Chairman of the NGF said this on Wednesday in Abuja during the Health Commissioners' Forum in Abuja.

The event titled: 'Primary Healthcare Financing Forum,' was meant to discuss the role of states in Primary Health Care Financing in Nigeria.

Fayemi, who was represented by Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, said that the country must make its interventions.

"Nigeria has numerous funds in different places that must be brought together to finance our Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs).

"Countries with strong PHC systems are better able to respond to disease outbreaks. We must improve our country's capacity to respond to healthcare emergencies.

"We will not make headway in achieving the Universal Health Care (UHC), until we have a health system that works for all," he said.

He reiterated the commitment of the NGF to work with the Federal Government and all partners to ensure that the country is on track to achieve UHC.

Meanwhile, some experts on the sidelines of the forum, said, a strengthened PHC in the country would be the easiest route towards the attainment of universal health coverage.

They stressed that this can only be achieved with the right financing arrangements in the country.

Supreme reports that the Nigeria Health commissioners' forum is Nigeria's community of practice and learning platform created by the 36 States' health commissioners across Nigeria.

This year, in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors' Forum, hosted the first collaborative event which focused on Primary Health Care financing, particularly the role sub-national systems must play in the process.

It said that primary health centres all over the world, require adequate financing and service delivery.