By Asmau Ahmad
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will embark on a comprehensive health sector reform aimed at providing a world class health care system.
He made the pledge when he received the End-of-Year Report of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
President Buhari said for Nigeria to enjoy a lasting legacy from the huge investment in the health sector, a comprehensive Health Sector Reform that will achieve a significant improvement in the health sector.
According to him, the objective of the reform includes; to build the human and institutional capacity to provide a world class 21st century health care system, capable of responding effectively to future pandemics.
“Develop a viable strategy for our primary and tertiary healthcare system; re-align institutional mandates and functions within the health sector for effectiveness and efficiency.
“It would also distinguish policy and coordination from implementation responsibilities; and strengthen the statutory and regulatory capacities within the health sector,” he said.
The president, who has extended the mandate of the PTF on COVID-19 till the end of March 2021, expressed serious concern over reported new surge in the number of cases of COVID-19 and the bid for vaccines.
He stated that recent reports have indicated that Nigeria is now facing a rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases nationwide which is similar to the second wave of infections occurring in other countries across the world.
“New epicentres have been identified and the nation cannot afford to lose the gains of the last nine months. I have critically evaluated the situation and remain convinced that urgent measures have to be taken to halt the spread and the attendant fatalities.
The president, therefore, stressed the need to speedily and strategically access and administer the COVID vaccine in a safe, effective and timely manner.
He said: “Accordingly, I have authorised the the extension of the mandate of the PTF for a further period till the end of March, 2021 bearing in mind the new surge in the number of cases and the bid for vaccines.
“That the PTF should coordinate the process for planning and the strategy for accessing, delivery and administration of the vaccines using the existing health structures that have worked in the past in vaccine administration.
“I have authorised the PTF to engage with the states government for them to assume full ownership of this stage of the response, by deploying legal structures and resources including enforcement to manage the pandemic within their jurisdictions.”
The president added that the details of the advisory measures have already been announced and the PTF and the Nigeria Immigration Service have been authorized to ensure that all in-bound passengers who failed to show up for post -arrival COVID-19 test are sanctioned within the ambit of the law, for breaching the public health protocols.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, revealed that the End-of-the-Year Report represented the state of the national as at the end of nine months of hard work.
He stated that the activities of the PTF remained work in progress because COVID-19 had not abated, saying countries of the world, including Nigeria, had been experiencing a second wave of infections which had proven to be more virulent.
He disclosed that the Report had also captured for posterity the strategy adopted, the resources mobilized and committed, achievements recorded, lessons learnt and it represented a useful roadmap for a national response, should emergencies occur in future.
The National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, had told the president that “the COVID-19 will be with us for a while. Although this is the new normal, it continues to be just as deadly.
“Nevertheless, we have shown it is possible to keep it in check through the work we have done – we must persevere and continue the communication and enforcement aspects required to keep us safe until the epidemic is over,” he said.
According to him, 2021 will be all about the COVID-19 vaccine, saying it is a huge challenge for the country and will require the leadership and continued commitment of the president.
