Representatives call on the FG to declare a health sector emergency.

The House of Representatives has issued a recommendation to the Federal Government, urging them to declare a state of emergency within the health sector and dedicate substantial funding towards it in the 2024 budget estimates.

During the plenary session in Abuja, a proposal was put forth by Representative Fayinka Oluwatoyin (APC-Lagos).

The motion was titled, "The Necessity of Establishing a Collaborative Framework between the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) and pertinent health agencies at the state and local government levels to ensure the effective operation of Primary Healthcare Centers."

Oluwatoyin, the elected representative for Mushin Federal Constituency II in Lagos State, highlighted the pressing issue of Nigeria's deteriorating health facilities, which is particularly concerning given the country's status as the most populous nation in Africa.

According to his statement, it was predicted that as of 2020, Nigeria possessed approximately 39,983 hospitals and clinics. Notably, primary healthcare centers constituted a significant majority, accounting for approximately 34,000 establishments, which equates to 86 percent of the total.

However, the individual expressed that a mere 20 percent of these primary healthcare centers are operational, particularly in rural regions that suffer from insufficient amenities and personnel.

According to his statement, the absence of essential medical equipment, pharmaceutical supplies, skilled employees, reliable electrical infrastructure, adequate bed capacity, and well-developed road networks has contributed to a rise in mortality rates within healthcare facilities.

According to his perspective, this called for the implementation of a revitalization plan including a budget of $80 million to accommodate extra bed places.

The individual asserted that the false portrayal of primary healthcare centers by the Federal and State Health Ministries has impeded the appropriate allocation of funds and restricted the availability of high-quality healthcare services in rural regions.

According to his assertion, this frequently results in untimely mortality.

The resolution passed by the House of Representatives calls upon the Federal Ministry of Health to promote the revitalization of primary healthcare programs at the local level.

The ministry was strongly encouraged to ensure the provision of high-quality and cost-effective healthcare services for the general population.

The House further urged the Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with State ministries, LGAs and other stakeholders to establish a task force to eradicate sharp medical malpractice.

The speaker emphasized the need for this initiative to be implemented primarily in rural regions. Furthermore, they suggested that the Committee on Healthcare Services should receive concise reports summarizing the evaluations of the primary Healthcare Centres' standards between the years 2016 and 2022.