Progress and Challenges in Nigeria’s Healthcare: Insights from the…

The 2024 State of Health of the Nation Report outlines recent advancements in Nigeria’s healthcare, particularly in health insurance, maternal and child health, and workforce development. However, it also identifies ongoing challenges such as low facility-based deliveries, high neonatal mortality, and gaps in immunisation. The report advocates for increased resources and policy reforms to enhance health outcomes nationwide.

A recent report titled “The 2024 State of Health of the Nation Report” indicates significant advancements in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, particularly in maternal and child health, health insurance coverage, and workforce development. Despite these strides, challenges persist, including low facility-based deliveries, elevated neonatal mortality rates, inadequate immunisation coverage, and uneven distribution of healthcare professionals. The report relied on data from the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal and Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and was disclosed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

The report aims to guide policymakers toward improving health outcomes nationwide. It demonstrates an increase in health insurance coverage, which aligns with the government’s goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). By December 2024, approximately 19.1 million Nigerians were projected to have health insurance, an increase from 16.8 million in 2023. However, a majority still face financial hardships due to out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.

The use of modern contraceptives among married women aged 15-49 rose from 12 percent in 2018 to 15 percent in 2023/2024, indicating some progress. Nonetheless, the unmet need for family planning remains substantial at 21 percent, indicating that many women desiring to delay pregnancies still lack contraceptive access. The limited availability of family planning commodities in health facilities is a contributing factor, with only 18.5 percent stocking contraceptive pills and only 19.5 percent offering injectables.

Delivery in health facilities remains low, with only 43 percent of women giving birth in such settings, leading to heightened risks of complications. Although under-five mortality has decreased from 132 to 110 per 1,000 live births since 2018, neonatal mortality remains high, constituting 37 percent of under-five deaths with a rate of 41 per 1,000 live births. Alarmingly, only 39 percent of children aged 12-23 months received all recommended vaccinations, and 31 percent did not receive any vaccinations at all.

Malnutrition continues to present a major public health issue despite 49 percent of health facilities providing nutrition-related services. The report underscores a knowledge gap regarding proper feeding practices among caregivers which necessitates immediate attention. Furthermore, only 12 percent of healthcare facilities offer diabetes care while hypertension management is available in only 14 percent.

A critical doctor-to-population ratio of 2.9 per 10,000 people has been reported, starkly below the WHO recommendation of 17 per 10,000, with most doctors concentrated in urban areas. The report advocates for various policy actions to enhance Nigeria’s health system, including increased resource allocation to healthcare, expansion of health insurance to alleviate out-of-pocket costs, and improved access to care.

Strengthening family planning and maternal health services is imperative, alongside enhancing immunisation and child health measures to mitigate vaccine-preventable diseases. There is an urgent need to expand hypertension and diabetes treatment services and incentivize health professionals to serve in rural areas. The report also highlights the necessity for local pharmaceutical production and improved disease surveillance to bolster health security and pandemic preparedness in Nigeria.

The 2024 State of Health of the Nation Report reveals progress in health insurance coverage and maternal health but underscores persistent challenges including limited access to family planning and basic healthcare services. Recommendations include increasing healthcare resources and accessibility, enhancing women’s health initiatives, and bolstering local healthcare capacities to achieve better outcomes. Addressing these issues is crucial for achieving comprehensive health improvements across Nigeria.

Original Source: www.premiumtimesng.com