...Harps on Dangers of Over-Dependency on Foreign Partners For Survival
Mkpuma Enyinna, Abakaliki
Following the rising health challenges in Nigeria, medical experts, and stakeholders have shown great concern about the depleting health system in Nigeria, and warn against over-dependency on foreign partners for survival.
They made this known during the 4th International Conference on Public Health taking place at David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi state.
While making presentations on the topic: `Navigating the Health System Challenges In the Pre-Pandemic, Pandemic, and Post-Pandemic Periods of Covid-19 in Ebonyi state: A Reflection.
The former health commissioner, Dr.Daniel Umezurike took time to analyze the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic era of COVID-19 and the current health challenges ravaging the country as well as the solutions to tackle the upsurge.
According to Dr.Umezurike, the objective of the presentation is to reflect on the health challenges in Nigeria. He explained that there are six basic methods in funding the health system which include: allocation to states, general taxation, national health insurance, voluntary health insurance, out-of-pocket, and donations to charity, adding that donation is very deceptive because the health system is over dependent on foreign partners and that is one of the major problems in Nigeria.
`We look at health systems in Nigeria in the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods of COVID-19 in Ebonyi state.
`The objective of this presentation is to reflect on the health challenges in Nigeria. In the health system, we mention three important things: people, institutions, and resources. The resources are very important in considering health systems.
`There are six basic methods in funding the health system: allocation to states, general taxation, national health insurance, voluntary health insurance, out-of-pocket, and donations to charity. This donation is very deceptive because the health system is over-dependent on partners and that is one of the major problems.
Dr. Umezurike further noted that the health system in this country has suffered great defeat because of negligence in health policy formulation as stakeholders are not carried along in policy formulation and implementation, stating that incessant change of government, poor budgetary funding in the sense that there is leakages from what is released and a gap between what is budgeted and what is released. Also, poor motivation of workers, rivalry, and envy among health workers, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and lack of human and material resources, among others constitute the major health system challenges in this country.
He charged health workers to sit up and avoid divide and rule tactics of government to unite and overcome the challenges as well as take good care of patients.
Furthermore, there were presentations made on the `Effect of Moral and Hygiene-Based Behavioral Change Communication on Social Conducts of Secondary School Students In Uburu, Ohaozara LGA of Ebonyi state, co-authored by Prof. Chigozie Jesse Uneke, Celestina Adaeze, Uchenna Eze and Nkiruka Nkiruka Folaranml.
Also made presentations are Dr. Uba Nwose of the School of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Southern Queensland Australia, Dr.Antor Ndep, Dr Kingsley Igboji, and Dr. Justin Nwankwo, among other keynote speakers.
The conference featured entertainment from a cultural troop, a question and answer section, and presentations from guest lecturers, among others.
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