By IJEOMA UKAZU
The annual health budgetary allocation in Nigeria has been below the 2001 Abuja declaration of allocating 15 percent of each country’s national budget to health.
Recall that in 2001, heads of state of African Union, AU countries met in Abuja and committed to prioritize the health sector by allocating at least 15 percent of their annual budgets to the sector.
Now 20 years after this commitment, which Nigeria was part of, countries like Rwanda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Swaziland, Togo and the Central African Republic have since met this target; Nigeria has not been able to allocate half of the expected 15 percent in these 20 years.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN have hinged the deplorable state of the country’s health sector on inadequate funding, urging the federal government to increase the sector’s budget allocation, noting that achieving a quality health care delivery requires adequate funding and proper monitoring of the fund.
The PSN President, Pharm. Sam Ohuabunwa made this known at a briefing in Lagos, to herald the forthcoming national conference of the society slated to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to address key issues on the sector and socioeconomic life of Nigerians.
He said, “Current budget of about five percent is against the recommended 15 percent and low budget performance should be jettisoned. He demanded accountability on how the money released by governments is spent for the benefit of all Nigerians, especially for the purpose, which it is budgeted for.”
He said, the theme of the conference, “COVID-19 Lessons: Broadening/Strengthening the Nigerian Pharmaceutical/ Health Sector”, promises to address contemporary issues covering health, economy and social life of Nigerians.
Ohuabunwa reiterated that, “The health of Nigerians should be a priority. Mental health should be an integral part of primary health care, giving that some of the non pharmaceutical measures, (self-isolation/quarantine, social distancing, and movement control) which are key to containing the spread of the virus were greeted with a lot of resistance and criticisms from the populace due to economic challenges and poor public health information dissemination. All these adopted to contain the spread of the virus could affect people’s mental health.”
On the impact of Covid-19 on health, he said it has been severe with an increasing number of fatalities, stating that, “With the spread comes economic hardship due to the preventive strategies adopted. Movement restrictions imposed in Nigeria as a result of the outbreak have generated dissension among the poor masses that hustle daily to eke a living.
“Nigeria being a very populous country, control measures like the movement restrictions and closure of business premises would have a devastating impact on them.”
He said Nigeria’s health care system could have succumbed to pressure if we had been hit as hard as the western world. The negligence of the primary health care structure over the years would have thrown full-blown repercussions.
“The suppression of professionals like Pharmacists, who bailed the country by standing in when the doors of hospitals were shut before Nigerians in need of health care, who are denied the authority to demonstrate what they are trained to do would have boomeranged.”
He lamented that the health care personnel to patients ratio in Nigeria is grossly inadequate, adding that the pandemic has shown that countries should train , not just enough numbers but to have those on reserve benches in case there is need.
The president told journalists that he supports mandatory taking of COVID-19 vaccines, stressing that there was no harm in taking the vaccines.
According to him, “The government needs to place priority on citizen’s health. It should intensify its efforts to enlighten its citizens on the importance of personal hygiene, undertake mass health education at the grass root level, sponsor rapid surveillance programs rather than the selective testing currently being practiced.”
He charged organizations and individuals to support the government as it grapples with the challenges associated with the pandemic.
The PSN President said, “Community pharmacies should be officially recognized as primary health care centres as it is the world’s best practice,” he said.
On setting priority right, the pharmacist stated, “We need to really cut costs. It is sad that every contract government awards is loaded with one thing or the other. We need to be more efficient and change our procurement mechanism. Our contractors also need to be assured that they get their money timely from the government.
“It must be noted that these problems did not start today. One of the best ways to tackle corruption is to be proactive by reducing the poverty rate in Nigeria. I have traveled across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and I have seen how people are suffering.
Urging Nigerians to take the vaccines, he said, “COVID-19 vaccines are safe. PSN’s position is that everybody should be vaccinated. In fact, I suggest that the vaccines should be made mandatory. I have been practicing that in my home and my company,” he said.
Giving a line-up of activities for the programme beginning from November 1 to November 6, on behalf of the organising committee, Chris Ehimien said that about 4000 delegates were expected at the event in Port Harcourt.
He announced that over 100 pharmaceutical companies would be part of the event, adding that researchers, technocrats, academia, inventors and administrators would be on ground to make it worthwhile for all that will attend.
Ehimien also pointed out that various experts would be on ground to give talks to strengthen the pharmacy profession in Nigeria.