By Abigail Philip David
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has urged Nigerians to hold federal, state, and local governments accountable for delivering quality healthcare and essential services.
Speaking at the Nigeria Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review in Abuja, themed “It’s for All of Us: Accelerating Our Health Sector Reforms Together,” Pate emphasized that citizens should expect high standards and improvements in healthcare, in line with the President’s agenda for a healthier nation.
“For our citizens, in line with the President’s vision, we want you to hold us, as well as your state and local governments, accountable for providing improved quality healthcare and basic services. This is essential for creating a healthier nation,” Pate stated.
He acknowledged the contributions of previous health ministers and other leaders, emphasizing that current efforts are building upon their foundations. In addition to the State of Health Report, Pate announced the forthcoming Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Report, which will address the impact of climate change on public health.
“The lives of Nigerians, especially women and children, are at stake, particularly the most vulnerable among us,” he added. “We are committed to building a healthcare system that is efficient, equitable, and high-quality.”
Pate highlighted that President Bola Tinubu is focused on improving healthcare services, with the ministry achieving 31 of its 41 Key Performance Indicators aligned with presidential goals, on track to exceed targets by 2024.
“We call on all of us to take action. The task ahead is huge, requiring our collective effort and strong partnerships. We invite all stakeholders, including government bodies, development partners, and friends of Nigeria, to join us on this journey,” he said.
Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako, underscored the importance of the Joint Annual Review (JAR) as a tool for assessing health sector performance, evaluating resources, and identifying areas for improvement.
“As an accountability instrument, the JAR promotes multisectoral coordination and sets clear priorities for the coming year to keep all stakeholders aligned with national health goals,” Salako noted.
He stressed the significance of tracking critical health indicators, such as mortality rates, disease prevalence, and healthcare utilization, to enhance quality and patient experience under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We have preliminary insights from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2023, which should guide the baseline for our sector-wide approach,” Salako added. He also highlighted the importance of addressing health financing challenges and strengthening primary health facilities through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to reduce maternal mortality and tackle the human resource crisis in healthcare.
