The Nation Newspaper

Tag: health reforms

  • Pate lists merits of health reforms

    Pate lists merits of health reforms

    Coordinating Minsiter for Health and Social Welfare Mohammed Ali Pate has listed the advantages of the Tinubu Administration’s health reforms.

    Speaking yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 66th Regular Session of the National Council on Health in Calabar, Prof. Pate highlighted this year’s theme, “My Health, My Right: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage through Equity, Resilience, and Innovation,” as a renewed commitment to improving access to quality healthcare for all Nigerians.

    The Minister recalled that 24 months ago, the Council took far-reaching decisions to overhaul the health sector through a Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) involving the Federal Government, Federal Ministry of Health, state governments, partners, and local governments. He noted that this year’s session marks a two-year milestone, with Nigerians now beginning to feel the impact of those collective efforts.

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    Prof. Pate announced key improvements, including a recorded reduction in maternal mortality by 17% and newborn deaths by 12% across targeted local government areas, rising public confidence in the health sector, better access to essential services, and recent allocations such as the release of 68 billion naira to support primary healthcare nationwide. He noted that progress is being made but emphasized that more work is needed to reach Nigeria’s health coverage targets. He urged states to continue increasing investments in health, ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficient use of resources to sustain the positive momentum.

    The Minister expressed deep appreciation to the government and people of Cross River State for their hospitality, thanking Governor Prince Bassey Otu and the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, who represented him. He also acknowledged the blessings of His Eminence, the Obong of Calabar, and commended the technical teams, permanent secretaries, directors, and all partners for their dedication in organizing the Council. Prof. Pate said the meeting will provide clear decisions to guide the next phase of health reforms as Nigeria accelerates toward Universal Health Coverage.

  • Why health reforms must begin from the grassroots, by Pate

    Why health reforms must begin from the grassroots, by Pate

    The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, has called for a new era of health policy-making rooted in the daily realities and lived experiences of Nigerians. He said this during the 10th anniversary celebration of the Dr Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Health Trust, held in Abuja. Represented by Dr Nse Akpan, Director of Port Health Services in the Ministry, Pate said health reforms would only succeed if policies reflect the true needs, values, and voices of people at the grassroots — from villages and marketplaces to schools, farms, churches, and mosques.

    “Policy design in Nigeria will not succeed unless it resonates in the communities, in the marketplace, in the farm, in the school, in churches, in mosques, and in clinics. That is where policy truly works,” he said. “If we sit down here and say we have a lot of failed policies without engaging the grassroots, then the government has not done anything.”

    Pate emphasised that inclusion in health policy development must go beyond fairness to become a strategic tool for effectiveness. The voices of youths, women, and marginalised groups, he said, are essential to crafting policies that deliver real impact. “When we talk about inclusion, it is not just about being fair; it is about being effective. Our policies must work for the people where they live and learn,” he added.

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    The minister also commended DRASA Health Trust for its decade-long contribution to Nigeria’s public health resilience. He described the organisation as a model for community-driven action, lauding its efforts in promoting hygiene, strengthening community surveillance, and raising awareness on disease prevention. According to him, DRASA’s approach aligns with the “One Health” principle — the understanding that the health of humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected. “Our health and prosperity as a nation depend on policies that integrate human, animal, and environmental health,” he noted. “That is why we are promoting the One Health approach, because health cannot thrive in isolation.”

    Pate reaffirmed that health security is a collective responsibility, cautioning against complacency in the face of growing public health threats. “Health security is everyone’s business. It wasn’t the business of Adadevoh alone; it is the business of us all. We do not know when or where the next outbreak will occur, but if we remain united and proactive, we can prevent crises and protect our people,” he said.

    He disclosed that the Federal Government, in collaboration with partners like DRASA, plans to train 50,000 additional health workers to serve in schools and communities across the country. The initiative, he explained, will scale up health education, hygiene, and infection prevention practices — helping to build a new generation of health champions nationwide.

    The minister further urged the media, private sector, and community influencers to support ongoing efforts to promote accurate information, transparency, and local innovation in the health sector. “The task before us,” he said, “is to make our health system inclusive, efficient, and resilient to both present and future threats.”

    Founded in memory of Dr Stella Adadevoh, the Nigerian physician who heroically halted the spread of Ebola in 2014, DRASA has become a beacon of preparedness and professional excellence. When Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer arrived in Lagos with Ebola symptoms, Adadevoh insisted he be quarantined despite intense pressure, an act that saved countless lives but ultimately cost her own.