The National Economic Council, on Thursday, approved plans to overhaul 17,000 and 774 primary and secondary healthcare centres, respectively, nationwide.
It said the move was in response to identified funding gaps and deteriorating healthcare metrics, as revealed by a presentation by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, to the council.
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, detailed the government’s strategy to State House Correspondents following the 137th National Economic Council meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Conveying the insights from Pate’s presentation, which highlighted the critical condition of the health sector, Governor Mohammed said, “The presentation…dissected in terms of very robust sector scan on health, from the tertiary to the primary level, looking at all the gaps, the problems and challenges of funding.”
He lamented the stark statistics showcasing a decline in health indices, including infant mortality rates, stating that the Tinubu-led administration aims to establish a synergy among stakeholders for deep, lasting reforms.
Therefore, he announced that the scope of the renewal of the programme intends to “service 17,000 primary health centers to be put on a threshold of viability, 774 secondary facilities, that is hospitals, in addition to some tertiary institutions.”
This comprehensive plan is designed to “make sure medicare is brought close to the majority of Nigerians,” Mohammed added.
