Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, in reeling out some of the achievements of the Federal Government in the Health Sector, has revealed, that the current administration has increased the number of lives enrolled in Health Insurance by 14% as of third quarter of 2024.
The Minister, made this statement, during the Ministerial Press Briefing organized by the Ministry to commemorate 2024 Universal Health Coverage Day- themed: “Health On The House Government”.
In which, he restated the commitment of the Federal Government to adopting result oriented approach that aligns with the goal of Universal Health Coverage, to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure and impoverishment from healthcare spending.
Speaking to the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative drives and the Sector Wide Approach SWAp; Prof. Pate explained that the Federal Government has sustained it’s plan to expand healthcare coverage to Nigerians and, transfer costs from individuals to the Government.
In a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations, it was revealed, that Prof. Pate asserted, that on health insurance, 2 million persons had been added, bringing the total to 8 million insured lives.
He said “Our administration has increased the number of lives enrolled in Health Insurance by 14% as of third quarter of 2024.
This is a modest yet significant addition of 2 million persons to the pool in less than a year. It brings the total to 8 million insured lives. Since the scheme was launched in 2005, if we had 2 million lives enrolled every year, we would have had about 40 million Nigerians with health insurance coverage today”, Prof Pate added.
Still on enrolling in an insurance scheme, he stated further, that N45.9bn has been disbursed through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, to assist indigent and vulnerable Nigerians access medical care without paying for it at the time and point of need.
“The equity funds by State Governments support care for its indigenes who are most in need. These funds complement the social sector interventions targeting these groups”, according to the Minister.
On vesicovaginal fistula cancer treatment centres across the country, Prof Pate revealed Governments plan to purchase health for target groups whose insurance premiums are high.
“As of October 2024, we had successfully undertaken 879 obstetric fistula repairs across 19 centres in the country with a target of 2,500 before the year ends. This has restored the quality of lives of our women and their dignity”, he pointed out.
In the area of facilities upgrade and improving health workforce, Prof. Pate disclosed that 238 facilities have been upgraded to functional level 2, stressing, additional 320 facilities are in the process of being upgraded.
“We have retrained 53,000 frontline workers, out of 120,000. We have also increased the capacity of health institutions to increase their quota so we can train more health workers )”.
On crashing maternal mortality, Government, he noted, is revitalizing primary healthcare facilities across the country for a successful roll out of the Maternal Mortality Innovative Initiative ( MAMI) project.
Additionally, the commencement of free caesarian sections for women who need it across the country was launched during the Health Sector- Wide Joint Annual Review in November.
Highlights of other Population Health Outcomes Listed by Prof. Pate include amongst others: Under- five mortality reduction by 16.7 (from 132 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 110 per 1,000 live births in 2023); Significant improvement in infectious diseases ranging from 40% reduction in diarrheal disease, 24% reduction in TB, 12% in HIV/AIDS and marginal increase in malaria burden; Over the years interruption by Government and partners in the transmission of neglected tropical diseases, including Onchocerciasis in 8 States- 29 million people formally on treatment no longer require annual administration
The Press briefing session was graced by development partners including the WHO, Nigeria Universal Health Coverage Forum and, Health Development Partners/FCDO.
