FG Working To Address Funding Gaps In Healthcare System – Pate

The Federal Government is working to address funding gaps in its healthcare system after the U.S. withdrew financial support.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof Mohammed Ali Pate stated this during an interactive session with the House of Representatives Committee on HIV/ AIDS Tuberculosis and Malaria, ATM.

According to him, Nigeria is tackling challenges in its healthcare system, particularly in fighting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria noting that although the U.S. decision to withdraw funding was sudden, its impact was reduced by measures the government had already taken through the collaboration between the federal, State and local governments in the country.

He emphasized the need for Nigeria to take responsibility for its healthcare system.

Earlier, Chairman of the Committee Amobi Ogah,
advocated a Healthcare Sector Trust Fund to provide a financial safety net for the healthcare system.

“A lot of countries in Africa are struggling at this moment.I just came back from Tanzania on the issue of health and materials.So I think there is a need.Like we have an education fund, TETFUND.

“It’s very, very important.I think looking at the challenges we are facing at the moment, we don’t want to continue facing such challenges because it happened this way today.We don’t know the way it will happen tomorrow. If not, we have a minister who is already part of the system there, it won’t be that easy for us”.

Addressing journalists afterwards, the minister of health and social welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate stated that, the lawmakers are a very important vehicle for health advocacy in improving awareness for the populace.

He said that, the ministry would work more closely with the national assembly members to ensure that Nigerians domesticate and internalize ideas that will help tackle malaria, HIV and tuberculosis in the country.

“Our parliamentarians, can educate people to get tested, for instance, and call on other parliamentarians at the state level, state assembly members, to also go to their constituents and educate their people, whether it’s water and sanitation, whether it’s nutrition,whether it’s attending primary health care, whether it’s on immunization.”

“We can activate the power of the parliamentarian because they are close to the people.And that will all help us to reach the objective which Mr President has put forward that the health of Nigerians is key to human capital accumulation and is key to the prosperity that is in this country’s future”.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji