The Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Professor Babatunde Salako, on Monday, said Nigeria had made notable improvements in the health sector as it celebrates the 2023 Democracy Day.
He said despite the notable improvements, the sector was faced with challenges that include poor infrastructure and electricity, among others.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that former President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had on June 6, 2018, declared June 12 as Nigeria’s democracy day, instead of May 29, in honour of the late Chief M.K.O Abiola.
The declaration followed many years of agitations by civil society groups that Abiola must be immortalised.
The acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, Abiola, died in detention during the military regime.
Prof. Salako said,” Generally, we can say that the health sector has made notable improvements but the major challenge remains poor infrastructure, electricity, with water being the most significant.
“The workforce until recently, remain effective barring industrial actions by unions and brain drain.
“There is a need for an improved level of discipline in the health sector to avoid incessant industrial actions, which practically make the gains in the health system to move in the opposite direction.
” Equipment and funding improved a little during COVID-19, but because there is no constant power supply, hospitals, universities, research institutes and workforce have become toothless. Yet, these are the sources of new knowledge, research and capacity building”.
On how the country had fared in health research, the DG said more funds should be made available to enhance health research that would proffer solutions to health issues that are peculiar to the country.
He added that the establishment of a Medical Research Council would help to scale up health research in the country.
“Health research has not fared better either but funding has improved a little through Tetfund, and now, we are asking for the establishment of a Medical Research Council, which has been passed into law by the National Assembly, only waiting for presidential ascent.
“This is also part of the report of the recent health sector reform committee submitted to the former President.
“We hope for the better on this as it is capable of changing the narrative and improving health research funding in Nigeria,” he said.
(NAN)
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