The Nigerian chapter of the West African College of Physicians has decried the country’s low budgetary allocation for the health sector, saying it has contributed to the high rate of noncommunicable diseases in the country.
It said that although Nigeria has recorded some achievements in the health sector, the federal government needs to redouble its efforts.
The Vice President and the Nigerian chairman of the college, Dr Jarmia Madaki, urged the federal government to do the needful in reversing the trend.
At a press conference marking the closing ceremony of the college’s 47th annual meeting, held at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, he regretted that most of the state governments do not allocate 15 per cent of their annual budget to health as stated in the Abuja Declaration.
Dr Madaki said: “We have looked at the 2030 (SDG) goals, and we believe and say that we are not doing well as a country. The government can meet that target, but the problem is whether it is ready to mobilise the political will to do so and its ability to deploy and allocate resources.
“For instance, look at what the government has allocated in the budget; we looked and found out that the Abuja Declaration stipulated that the government commit at least 15 per cent of its budget to health; the best we have seen is not more than 5 per cent.”
Continuing, he said: “We still see some diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS still ravaging and killing our people. The government needs to double its efforts in these areas to reduce morbidity and mortality rates.”
It was reported that over 80 Nigerian physicians converged in Bauchi for the 47th annual meeting to discuss issues about healthcare delivery.
The college, after its meeting, also urged the government to curb the increasing brain drain that is affecting the health sector.
“The issues of welfare, security, and a conducive working environment are important to the practitioners. These are factors driving them abroad. If the government can fix all these, we will end the brain drain,” the chairman said.
Activities marking the event include paper presentations, symposia, and medical outreach to Durum, a suburb of Bauchi, from which over 2,000 locals benefited.
