By Ndidi Chukwu
Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH) and Civil Society Coalition Tuesday said the National Health Act which was signed into law by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, should be gazetted and put in the public domain as early as possible.
The Coalition made up of Seven Civil Societies, in a press conference called on all Health Stakeholders to be more proactive in implementing the Health Act, as Political Campaigns heightens. It also urged National Assembly, to ensure that funds are provided for basic health care to improve Primary Health Care Services, “if Nigeria must achieve its goal of being one of the top 20 economies by 2020, the government has to commit to improving the health and well-being of Nigerians” said Aminu Magashi Garba, Routine Immunization Sector Lead .
“Our aim is to sensitize political party members and Nigerians on the dire status of women and children in Nigeria and the need to draw attention to the inadequate funding of key interventions to save the lives of women and children in Nigeria. Magashi said
The Nigeria’s health sector has witnessed, huge funding gaps in provision of key MNCH interventions and where funds are available, delays of approval stalls release and utilization of budgetary allocation to child and family health.
But the Coalition said it considers it “critical” that priority health issues affecting women and children are equally at the fore front of the on-going elections as political parties and their aspirants traverse the length and breadth of Nigeria canvassing for votes for the 2015 General Elections.
“Nigeria’s poor MNCH status is underlined by an overarching poor governance and stewardship responsibility for health, especially at PHC levels” Said Chioma Kanu for Civil Society Legislative Advocacy.
PACFaH urged Nigerians to demand for concrete and realistic plans on health from Political Parties and their aspirants and campaigns continues.
