Nigeria’s health budget, lowest compared to other African countries — Orthopaedic Surgeon

 

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH), Dr. Abdulkadir Ahmed has said that Nigeria’s health budget on health ranks among the lowest in the African region.

Ahmed made the call in Ilorin while delivering a paper presentation at the 42nd Annual General Meeting and Sir Ademola Aderibigbe Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (ARD-UITH).

The theme of the conference is entitled: “Leveraging on the Medical Residency Training as A Catalyst for Healthcare Reforms in Nigeria”.

Ahmed, who is also a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, observed that this falls short of the Abuja declaration of committing at least 15 percent of yearly budget for health sector.

“Nigerian healthcare financing is low even when compared to other African countries. It is one of the countries that spent the least per individual for healthcare in the world,” he said.

According to him, the country had only
0.5 percent of GDP on health in 2019, while the total government expenditure on health in 2020 was 4.2 percent of the total budget.

Ahmed observed that the low budget on health in the country comes with myriad of challenges that confronts the healthcare sector.

Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Orthopaedic Surgeon stated that the contemporary health statistics showed ranking of health system placed Nigeria in 187th position out of 191 countries.

He warned that most of the fundamental challenges to the sector is lack of adequate fundings which hinders maintainance and expansion of facilities.

Ahmed pointed out that by 2100, the county’s population is projected to be 433 million and 700 million if not properly managed.

The expert, therefore, appealed to government at all tiers to commit adequate funding for the healthcare sector in the country.

He advised the government to invest in manpower and infrastructure while also strengthening rural communities and postings.

Ahmed tasked the resident doctors in the country to be knowledgeable in clinical leadership, while also laying emphasis on leadership training which he said, would produce managers and ultimately improve health services in the country.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Kwara Ministry of Health, Dr Taoheed Abdullahi, observed that the theme of the conference is apt, as it speaks directly to the health sector transformation agenda of the country.

Abdullahi reiterated the resolve of the state government in supporting resident doctors and improving their training experience.

He appealed to the young doctors that the nation needs them at this critical time in accelerating the revamping of the “near collapsed health sector”.

Earlier in his welcoming address, the President of ARD-UITH, Dr Monsuru Awodun, said the association had recorded progress in its development stride, as it had completed phase two of the ARD-UITH lodge.

He noted that members undertook renovation of three doctors call rooms to improve working conditions among others.

Awodun, however, decried the myriad of challenges faced by the association, saying that they remain committed to their oath in saving lives.