The Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) wants the new health minister to focus on increasing and improving the healthcare sector in the country.
HEWAN describe the new ministers’ appointment as putting the right peg in the right hole; believing that the newly appointed ministers understand the system, the challenges and bottlenecks, according to a statement signed by Chioma Obinna president, Lucy Osuizigbo, secretary both of HEWAN.
However, the association harps on the need for the new ministers to address the implementation of Primary Health Care policies and the inadequate funding of PHCs, noting that disease burden will reduce drastically if the challenges affecting healthcare at the primary levels are addressed properly.
“It is in the interest of the nation for the ministers to rejig our PHCs to make them viable. It is also pertinent for the ministers to continue with the 10,000 primary health centres project across the country,” the statement states.
The association recommended that subsidised treatment to address the healthcare needs of the elderly and retirees in the country, as old age comes with some unavoidable associated ailments of which they cannot afford to manage on their own.
The Association noted the growing cases of medical negligence and misdiagnosis in the country, saying Nigeria is in dire need of effective medical laboratory services as many of the national laboratory facilities are moribund.
“For instance the Vaccine Laboratory in Lagos. There is a need to revitalise these facilities for better treatment outcomes as medical laboratory is bedrock of medical treatment,“ they added while calling for reduction of maternal and child mortality and morbidity.
“There is a need to investigate and prosecute cases of negligence in the hospitals to serve as a deterrent and build confidence in the health system,” the statement says.
The association also advocated that there should be zero tolerance for discord in the sector, stating that as a matter of necessity without prejudice, the age-long inter- and intra-professional rivalries, discord, acrimony, and crisis that have always thrown the Nigerian Health Sector into unending and perennial discord should be tackled. What this has brought to the health sector is retrogression and stagnation.
“It has eroded patient-centred practices, especially openly demonstrated in public health Institutions. “This has gone unabated for years. Patients have suffered the consequences in no small way. This has greatly led to the loss of confidence in our Health Sector too.”
They called for increase in the budgetary allocation to the health sector to end brain drain. Quoting a 2017 poll by the Nigerian Polling Organisation, NOI, HEWAN said over 90 per cent of medical doctors in the country intend to seek employment abroad because of low job satisfaction, poor remuneration.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH
