Health
Under-five mortality reduced by 16.7% between 2018 and 2023- Pate
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Muhammad Pate, says the death rate of children under five years of age has reduced by 16.7 per cent between 2018 and 2023.
He disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review (JAR).
The NAN reports that JAR is a crucial platform for advancing the principles of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), bringing together stakeholders to reflect on progress made, evaluate challenges and identify areas for further improvement.
According to Pate, the figure is based on the pre-population health outlook report of the soon to be reviewed Nigeria Demographic and HealthSurvey (NDHS) conducted in 2023.
He added that there were also significant improvements in infectious diseases, ranging from 40 per cent reduction in diarrheal diseases,24 per cent reduction in Tuberculosis and 12 per cent reduction in HIV.
“So, in spite of the pervasive sense that there are difficult challenges, Nigeria is beginning to move, which with this political commitment,we can accelerate in the right direction.
“Also, 17 states have already shown improved performance in modern contraceptives and six have already doubled.”
Pate explained that in the last one year, based on the data-driven diagnostic assessment of the health sector, a strategic blueprint with an overallgoal to save lives was developed to reduce both physical and financial pain and ensure good health for all Nigerians.
He added that the blueprint, comprising four pillars of governance, underpins the efforts being made and the collective approaches being taken to enhance the sector.
He alluded to the health compact that was signed by the president, which had the buy-in of all the state governors, adding that there are significant progress in that regard.
He said that “by Quarter Three of 2024, we have already met 31 out of 41 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across the presidential commitments andare on course to surpass all our targets for 2024.
“Also, N45 million has already been disbursed through direct facilities to states and several facilities have been revitalised.”
Pate, however, said that in spite of the successes recorded, there were still challenges that needed to be improved on.
He mentioned affordability of care, data sources, coverage of children with zero dose immunisation and malnutrition as some of the areas that require attention.
The minister assured Federal Government’s commitment to prioritise health issues, in line with the principles of the sector-wide compact that was signed.
He urged state governments to also commit to improved budgetary allocation for health, while seeking stronger convergence of financing and technicalsupport from development partners.
The Governor of Imo, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, while delivering a keynote address, said that one of the landmark initiatives introduced by the Federal Governmentin the enhancement of the efficiency of the health sector was the SWAp.
Uzodinma, who spoke on behalf of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), said the SWAp promotes the “One Budget, One Plan, One Organisation and One Report”.
He added that the approach was further solidified by the signing of the Health Sector Renewal Compact by President Bola Tinubu, Pate and the 36 governors and developmentpartners.
He explained that “the signing of this compact is a powerful demonstration of our collective commitment to universal health governance and underscoresthe critical importance of collaboration between the Federal Government, the states and local government areas to achieve our health goals.
“The recent results of the NDHS reinforces why this collaboration is essential.”
Uzodinma, however, said that although there have been some improvements in health indicators particularly in reducing the final impact of the health crisis, thefigures remain unacceptably high.
He stressed the need for collaboration among stakeholders to recognise the unique challenges each state faces, while maintaining shared focus on achievingbetter health outcomes for all Nigerians.
He reiterated the commitment of the NGF to continue to honour commitments to build a more resilient, inclusive and effective healthcare system thatmeets the needs of Nigerians.
The review, which started on Wednesday, will end on Friday.
NAN
Health
Experts call for pharma sector harmonisation
Health sector experts have called for the harmonisation of pharmaceutical activities in Nigeria to eliminate duplication, enhance efficiency, and improve access to quality medicines and health products.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement focused on aligning efforts under the Improving Access to Medicines through Policy and Technical Support (IMPACT) project.
Dr Tayo Hamzat, Supply Chain Management Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the engagement was timely, considering the number of ongoing but uncoordinated interventions in the sector.
“Harmonisation will lead to faster access to health products, lower costs, improved efficiency, and better regulatory oversight.
“It requires collaboration and a focus on strengthening national systems.”
He described Nigeria’s pharmaceutical system as “robust and huge” but hindered by weak coordination and fragmented management structures.
Dr Francis Ohanyido, Director-General of the West Africa Institute of Public Health, said such collaboration was “common sense” given limited development financing and the need to optimise resources.
“Market shaping is a critical tool.
“Harmonisation can help us identify clear gaps we need to fill, especially in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.
Dr Anthony Ayeke, Programme Manager for Health and Nutrition at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting a resilient, locally driven pharmaceutical sector.
“Harmonisation can accelerate local production, reduce import dependency, and improve healthcare system resilience,” he noted.
He also recommended regulatory streamlining, value chain capacity building, innovation, and public-private partnerships.
Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Value Chain Transformation Committee (PVAC), commended ongoing efforts under the IMPACT project.
Represented by Dr Muhammad Balarabe, Technical Associate at PVAC, he emphasised the committee’s focus on catalysing local production and attracting sustainable investment.
“Let’s use this platform to strengthen partnerships and align interventions with the vision of affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Nigerians,” he said.
Dr Obi Adigwe, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), said fragmented interventions and redundant regulations had long stunted growth in the sector.
Represented by Prof. Philip Builders, Professor of Pharmaceutics at NIPRD he said: “Equitable access to quality medicine is the foundation of universal healthcare.
“The lack of access is not just a health issue; it’s about equity, national security, and economic survival.
“Harmonisation isn’t just about avoiding duplication; it’s about aligning policy, investment, and technical frameworks to achieve measurable results.”
He urged stakeholders to develop practical short, medium, and long-term strategies to make Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector self-reliant, globally competitive, and able to meet national healthcare demands.
The meeting brought together key government agencies, development partners, and private sector actors, each reaffirming a shared commitment to a unified, efficient pharmaceutical ecosystem in Nigeria.
NAN
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