By Iyemah David
The 65th National Council on Health (NCH) has called for strategic reforms and innovations to advance Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
The event was held on Tuesday in Maiduguri, Borno, with the theme, “Accelerating Pathways to Universal Health Coverage: Strategies for 2030 Success.”
It brought together health sector leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to address critical sub-themes, including health workforce development, community engagement, and leveraging digital health solutions.
The event, hosted by the Borno State Government, underscored the collective responsibility of ensuring accessible and equitable healthcare for all Nigerians.
Delivering the welcome address, Borno State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Professor Baba-Mallam Gana stressed the importance of collaboration in addressing Nigeria’s healthcare challenges.
“This council meeting provides an unparalleled opportunity to share insights, explore innovative solutions, and reaffirm our commitment to delivering quality healthcare to every Nigerian, regardless of location or circumstance,” he said.
He also highlighted Borno state’s efforts to rebuild and strengthen healthcare systems despite the unique challenges facing the state, particularly in underserved communities.
In his keynote address, Prof. Bala Audu of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, stressed the need for deliberate policies to sustain quality training for doctors, nurses, and midwives.
“The global demand for Nigerian-trained health professionals underscores their resilience and skill,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Dr Walter Mulombo, Head of the WHO Nigeria Country Office, represented by Dr Mary Nana-Ama, Officer in Charge, commended the Federal Ministry of Health for its efforts in revitalising the health sector.
Mulombo said that the meeting’s focus on workforce development and digital health aligned with WHO’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s health systems.
A review of the implementation status of the 64th NCH resolutions revealed mixed outcomes.
While significant progress was reported on some resolutions, others lagged due to limited resources and coordination challenges.
Dr Kamil Shoretire, Director of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics.at the health ministry outlined strategies to address these gaps, emphasising the need for sustained commitment and funding.
Meanwhile, discussions at the meeting centred on three critical pillars:
Delegates explored strategies to train, deploy, and retain healthcare professionals, particularly in underserved areas.
Participants stressed the need for communities to take an active role in health decisions. Strategies included fostering trust and promoting health-seeking behaviours to improve health outcomes nationwide.
Delegates, also, highlighted the transformative potential of technology in expanding access to healthcare.
Innovations such as telemedicine and health data systems were identified as critical tools for improving service delivery in remote areas.
The delegates resolved to adopt actionable solutions to accelerate progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
