Dr. Salma Anas, the Special Adviser to the President on Health, has announced that the Renewed Hope Agenda will prioritize addressing governance issues in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
Speaking at the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Transparency and Accountability Project (CTAP) summit in Abuja, Anas emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the healthcare sector. The CTAP summit, initiated by BudgIT and CODE, aims to promote transparency and accountability while encouraging engagement in discussions about healthcare issues, particularly among young people.
Anas encouraged Nigerians to actively participate in shaping the healthcare sector’s future. She revealed that the Renewed Hope Health Agenda, which encompasses eight strategic areas, places a high priority on governance, emphasizing accountability and transparency as key components.
The agenda aligns with the concept of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as its primary goal and recognizes healthcare as an investment. It envisions the creation of jobs and economic and social development through a healthy population.
Dr. Kaltuma Ahmed, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health, shared ongoing plans to renovate and equip 255 Primary Health Care centers and strengthen the state’s health insurance scheme. She emphasized that healthcare remained a top priority for the Kaduna State Government, with 15% of the budget allocated to the health sector.
Mr. Hamzat Lawal, CEO of CODE, stressed the importance of collaboration for healthcare sector reform and preparedness for emergencies. He called for informed decision-making, equity, anti-corruption efforts, expanded health coverage, and inclusivity in the healthcare system.
Dr. Adaeze Oreh, Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, discussed the brain drain issue in the healthcare sector and the need for comprehensive solutions to address its root causes. She emphasized the importance of incentivizing healthcare professionals to remain in the country and contribute to the healthcare system’s improvement.
Mr. Oluseun Onigbinde, Co-founder and Director of BudgIT, highlighted CTAP’s impact across nine African countries and called for decentralizing healthcare discussions to the state and geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
