Fund NSHDP to achieve universal health coverage, CSOs urge FG, states

By Ese Awhotu
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, CSOs and other
Professional Associations has called on the Federal, states and local
governments to fund the second National Strategic Health Development
Plan (NSHDP).
The Co-chair Open Government Partnership, Kano State and Executive
Director, Women in Media(WIM), Hajiya Halima Ben Umar mad this call at
a press conference in Abuja today.
In a joint statement signed by Hajiya Halima and Barrister Ayo
Adebusoye, Secretary- General, Network for Nigeria an NGO, for
PACFaH@Scale CSO Coalition, said aside funding, the three tiers of
government are also urged to ensure accountability in its
implementation in order to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in
Nigeria.
She explained that, “universal health coverage means that all
Nigerians get quality health services and when needed without
suffering financial hardship.”
Hajiya Halima, added that, “prior to the global movement of UHC,
Nigeria developed health policies and structures such as the first
National Strategic Health Development Plan(NSHDP-1) and the National
Health Insurance Scheme(NHIS) to increase access to healthcare, but
despite these structures, the country was unable to achieve the
objective of ensuring that every citizen has access to healthcare.”
She explained further that, “According to the National Health Account
of 2014, for every N1,000 spent on health, about N700 is out-of-packet
expenditure, a situation that is driving millions of Nigerians into
poverty and denying them basic healthcare. Also in 2001, following the
Abuja declaration, Nigeria signed to commit at least 15% of her annual
budget to improve the health sector, but in the last two decades, the
highest federal budgetary allocation to health stands at 7%. With such
under investment in healthcare, Nigeria cannot achieve Universal
Health Coverage.”
She said the meager investment is further compounded by delay in
non-release of funds appropriated.
The Coalition expressed belief that if these barriers are removed by
fully funding, implementing  and ensuring accountability of the
NSHDP-II, every Nigerian will have access to affordable and quality
healthcare.
The Coalition therefore called on the Federal Government to release
the Basic Health Care Provision Fund in the 2018 health budget without
further delay and also explore innovative ways of funding the health
system in order to achieve UHC.