FG approves N6.07 trillion national health plan

Federal Executive Council ( FEC) on Wednesday approved N6.07 trillion National Health Strategic Plan 2, with a promise that federal government will banish Cholera from the country in the next five years.

Health Minister, Isaac Adewole who stated this while briefing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, said the National Health Plan 2, covers the period from 2018 to 2022

The plan essentially has five strategic pillars and 15 priority areas, which include, enabling environment for our attainment of health sector good, increased utilisation of essential package of healthcare services, strengthening our health system, and protection from health emergencies as well as health financing.”

He assured that all the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, are expected to key into the new plans, adding that “38.2 percent of the total amount will be spent on human capital development, 34 percent for medicines, commodities and supplies while the remaining seven percent will be for infrastructure.

The new plan had passed through a five-stage process, with states developing their plans, while another plan was developed at the federal level.

“We came together, harmonised all the plans and we brought everybody together to validate and adopt the plan and then moved on to Kano for implementation”

He also disclosed that the plan was developed with full participation of the country’s development partners who were also present to defend the plan during the presentation at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“We are reengineering the health sector,” he stated, adding that the previous plan 1 ranging from 2010 to 2015, was only able to achieve less than two of its 52 targets.

He also disclosed that the government is working on a plan to banish cholera from Nigeria for 5 years.

Some of the plans which is in conjecture with international partners include investment in water, general education about health and prevention.

Recall that the first plan, put in place under Former President GoodLuck Jonathan covering 2010 to 2015, only succeeded in tackling two out of the 52 targets

Adewole said the new plan took two years to put together to avoid the pitfalls of the first plan, with all the 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, taking part in the preparations of the new plan.

“The plan was approved at the National Council on Health meeting that took place in Kano on 21st of June, 2018.

“In total, this new plan has 15 thematic areas, 48 strategic objectives and 282 interventions that will help us to really improve the healthcare delivery that will offer our people.”

“What is important is the stakeholder and strong health sector wide participation of states in the presentation.

“ The entire projects meant for over five years will cost us over N6.071 trillion and we believe that if this funding is done, if the plans are implemented faithfully, we will achieve a 31 per cent reduction in maternal mortality. We will achieve 33 percent reduction in horizontal mortality and we will achieve under five percent mortality reduction of 29 per cent”

He also expressed confidence that this plan will usher Nigeria into a new era of health care delivery.

“So, the next thing now, will be to ask the states to commence implementation. Federal will commence, and we will go to NEC and Governors’ Forum to secure the buy-in of the governors so that this plan can be faithfully implemented.

Tony Ailemen, Abuja