By Iyemah David
Cross River State Government is set to host the 66th National Council on Health (NCH) meeting; a key annual gathering expected to shape Nigeria’s health policies and strategies.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, via its official website, announced the development on Sunday.
The five days meeting which will take place in the state capital, Calabar will commence on Monday and end on November 21.
The theme for the event is “My Health, My Right: Accelerating Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through Equity, Resilience, and Innovation.”
The NCH is Nigeria’s highest policy-making body on health matters, established under the National Health Act, 2014.
Chaired by the Minister of Health, the Council comprises State Commissioners for Health, Permanent Secretaries, and other key stakeholders across the Federal and State health sectors.
The NCH provides a platform for strategic dialogue and coordinated action on health policies, programmes, and innovations that strengthen Nigeria’s health system.
The ministry says the annual event is to review national health priorities, deliberate on emerging issues, and make key decisions that guide implementation across all levels of government.
It also said that in line with its digital transformation agenda, the NCH Web Portal had been developed to enhance coordination, streamline communication, display information, and facilitate the submission and tracking of memoranda, reports, and resolutions.
It added that the initiative underscored the council’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and evidence-based policymaking toward achieving UHC by 2030.
It further said that participants were required to register first, fill in details, and submit before approval for participation, after which a confirmation email would be sent.
“Attendees are advised to ensure their email addresses are correct and active,” it said.
Meanwhile, speaking with newsmen, Chair of the Forum of Commissioners for Health and Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, expressed readiness to host the meeting.
According to him, Cross River is honoured to host this year’s NCH meeting.
“This is an opportunity to showcase our commitment to healthcare development while contributing to shaping national health policies.”
Dr Filani explained that the NCH served as Nigeria’s highest decision-making body on health matters.
“Resolutions from the council guide national health priorities, review existing policies, adopt new strategies, and explore innovative solutions to improve healthcare access for all Nigerians,” he said.
He added that delegates and stakeholders were expected to engage in robust dialogue aimed at shaping the future of Nigeria’s health sector.
The 65th NCH meeting was held between November 18 and 22, 2024, in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The event had brought together more than 1,100 delegates from the federal and state health institutions, as well as development partners, civil society organisations, private sector, and traditional rulers.
The theme was “Strengthening Resilient Health Systems: Addressing Challenges and Charting a New Course for Nigeria’s Healthcare Delivery.”
The 65th edition discussion covered pressing issues such as UHC, health financing, maternal and child health, disease outbreaks, and strategies for enhancing healthcare service delivery across the nation.
The Council reviewed 81 memoranda, approved 18 key health policies, and inaugurated major national documents, including the National Policy on Health Workforce Migration, the Nigeria Health Workforce Profile, and several RMNCAEH guidelines.
It also adopted resolutions on digital health, food safety, climate adaptation, mental health integration, emergency medical services, and strengthening human resources for health.
