The World Health Organisation yesterday said the country would have become a polio free country
but for federal government’s lack of political will to equip the health sector.
The international organization said the country would be saving a staggering sum of N1.5 billion
annually to develop health sector if declared polio free in 2018 as proposed by the federal
government.
The President of NMA in the country, Dr Kayode Obembe also called on President Muhammadu
Buhari to increase the 5 per cent budgetary provision being allocated to health sector annually to 15%
to be able to actualize the Universal Health coverage.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti during the NMA National Executive Committee on Wednesday, the WHO
Representative in Ekiti, Dr. Adeniji Akinyemi, said it was rather disturbing that polio has proved to
be the most complex diseases to eradicate in Nigeria, hinging this on lack of political will on the side
of the government.
The Community Health Expert said: “Nigeria is set to be declared polio free state in 2018, but to
actualize this, we have to first deliver the country free of Type 2 Polio virus which causes paralysis.
But we have to muster enough political will to actualize this by showing commitment to health
sector”.
The NMA President stated that poor budgetary allocation to the health sector has been impeding the
quality health delivery to reach the grassroots.
Obembe lamented that the National Health Insurance Policy should be made compulsory by
government for all citizens, saying only 7 per cent of the population are enjoying the scheme.
“The NHIS which has been operational since 2005 has covered only 7 per cent of the population. In
order to achieve the goal of universal health coverage, resource mobilization, risk pooling and
strategic purchasing should all br at the community level”, he advised.
Earlier, the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose had urged Nigerian doctors to put machinery in
motion to curtail quackery in the health sector, saying the development is constituting a great threat to
many innocent Nigerians.
Fayose, who rued the rampancy of quackery in the system and its backlash on the society, urged the
NMA to fish out quacks among them and make them to face the wrath of law.
“What we need to develop the health sector is for the doctors to exhibit attitudinal change. We have
to go beyond seminars and workshops . Doctors must continue to show patriotism. They must pay
their taxes by showing responsibility to the society they belong.
“Under my government, CONMESS and CONHESS were implemented. The College of Medicine of
the Ekiti State University and the School of Nursing were accredited by professional bodies. I have
placed high premium on your welfare and I will continue to do my best to develop health sector”,
Fayose said.
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