The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has said that Nigeria is the largest contributor to the global annual mortality rate.
Adewole, however, said that the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that all Nigerians, particularly women, children and adolescents have access to basic health and nutrition services that they need without becoming poorer by paying for them.
The minister said this at a forum organised by the FG, the Global Financing Facility and Partners, in Abuja, aimed at co-financing efforts towards improving the health and nutrition of the populace.
According to a statement by the Director of Media at the ministry, Mrs Boade Akinola, the minister explained that Nigeria, being the most populous country in Africa, was facing big challenges.
The statement added, “Nigeria is the largest contributor to the global annual mortality rate; infant and child mortality rates are unacceptably high. Total fertility rates have remained stubbornly high and has worsened nutrition outcomes in children, as well as immunisation rates, especially among the poorest children.”
Adewole regretted that these challenges had hugely outpaced government spending on health and nutrition, coupled with government spending in recent years being unable to reach those who needed them most, as well as doing little to reduce high and impoverishing out-of-pocket spending on health by poor Nigerians.
Adewole maintained that the grant from the GFF would co-finance early implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund with funds mobilised from the government and other contributors, starting in Abia, Niger, and Osun states.
Adewole said, “The GFF has created a new sense of awareness that we must put our money on the table for these essential investments in our people and use them in even smarter ways and that is something that has not been done before.”
Following the start-up phase, the minister revealed that government would provide most of the financing for the scale-up to the remaining 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Also speaking, the Director of the GFF, Ms Mariam Claeson, said that Nigeria’s commitment to sustainably financing health and nutrition was a beacon for other countries, as they worked closely with the GFF to make sure the investment they made lasted for years to come.
“The government of Nigeria will make an enormous difference in the lives of millions of its people by making a lasting investment in the health and nutrition of women, children and adolescents, the foundation of the society, as well as the economy,” she said.
In his remarks, the World Bank Country Manager for Nigeria, Mr Rachid Benmessaoud, said that Nigeria, with the support of the GFF, the World Bank, and other partners are providing real change for the people.“This investment in human capital will pay dividends in lives saved and improved and help build a stronger and more prosperous economy,” he said.
