Arising from the 59th National Council for Health meeting which is being held in Umuahia, Abia State, comprised of all the States commissioners for health, the minister for health, partners like; WHO, UNICEF, PEPFAR, US AIDS etc.
It is note worthy that the 2014 National Health Act recognizes the National Council of Health as the highest policy making body within the Nigeria health sector.
The responsibilities of the Council include the protection, promotion, improvement and maintenance of the health of the citizens of Nigeria and the formulation of policies, in the interest of the Nigeria citizens. The Council is also tasked with ensuring the delivery of basic health services to the people of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the 59th National Council Meeting on health began on the 23rd day of January 2017, and it is expected to end on friday 27th.
The main reason for the council meeting is the quest of improving the Health sector across the federation, and Delta State is ably represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Azinge.
Dr. Azinge in his opening remark, acknowledged his colleagues and the Honourable minister for health, Prof Isaac Adewole.
Dr. Azinge thanked the delegates from all the states of the federation, and appealed to them all to ensure complementing their state government efforts in their capacities so as to improve the standard of health system in Nigeria. "The time has come for us all to improve our Health systems to international standard, so we can discourage people travelling abroad for medical treatments, and to provide better medical services to the good people of Nigeria", he said.
More so, Hon. Dr. Azinge also disclosed most of the achievement of Delta State Government/Delta State Ministry of Health in the health sector. He categorically listed some of his state achievement, through the States 'Smart Agenda' initiative, in a bid of encouraging his colleagues.
Hon Dr. Azinge stated that his State is recording success in infrastructural upgrades, which has been ongoing in all levels of care training institutions across the 3 Senatorial Districts of Delta State. Including primary health care, secondary health care and School of Nursing.
Dr. Azinge also disclosed that the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Review (MPDSR) committee has been inaugurated by his State, in line with the directives of the Federal Ministry of Health.
He also added that Delta State have recorded success through the 'Smart Agenda' in Tuberculosis control-care of multi-drug resistant TB patients in Delta State and the cure rate from 2015-2016 is 93%.
Hon. Dr. Azinge also disclosed that Delta State ministry of Health has improved drug supply chain management leading to reduction in out of stock complaint. And the inauguration of the state drug control committee, which he said have commenced work, in a bid of reducing illegal use of drugs by the citizens of the state and Nigeria at a large. He also stated that the enrolment of people into the health insurance scheme will soon commence in Delta State.
Further More, Hon. Dr Azinge thanked the Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who single handedly, sponsored the National Health Bill 2014, in the Senate, for the sole purpose of helping Nigeria in achieving the Universal Health Coverage and to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target, as stated by the then serving Senator, in 2014.
Hon. Dr Azinge thanked the Governor for sponsoring the Bill, stating that the National Health Act is currently providing a legal framework for the regulation, development and management of the National Health System, setting standards for the rendering of health services in the Nigerian federation. He further highlighted that the Governor of Delta State his Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa was the main architect of the National Health Act, and ensured Deltans that the State Governor's plan is to build at least, one primary health care centres in the various wards across the State.
Further information will be released to Deltans after the communique have been issued at the end of the meeting tomorrow 27th January, 2017.
By Christian Onwugbolu
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