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By Danmaryam Zayamu
President Muhammadu Buhari, has disclosed that the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) has attracted support from donors and development partners.
He disclosed this at the official launch of the ‘Nursing Now’ campaign in Abuja.
“Nursing Now” Nigeria campaign, an initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN), is aimed at raising the profile and status of nursing and to ensure that they are involved in decision making processes.
Expressday recalled that the BHCPF, a component of the National Health Act (NHA), is one per cent of the federal government Consolidated Revenue set aside to fund the basic health needs of Nigerians.
As at May 2019, 22 states have begun implementation of the BHCPF while 14 states were yet to meet the criteria.
The President reiterated that: “This administration places priority on the health of citizens as a cornerstone of human capital development and will continue to ensure that healthcare is always positioned as a focus of our next level agenda.
“This administration initiated the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), a flagship programme to ensure that vulnerable Nigerians get access to quality and affordable service delivery towards the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“I am pleased to say we have made good progress with the programme, with our commitment now attracting support from donors and development partners.”
The President, therefore, vowed that his government will continue to support the development of Nursing and Midwifery profession in the country.
He reiterated that Nurses are an integral group in health care delivery, who, according to him, have the potential to shape the image of their facility or even of the healthcare profession.
Represented by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, President Buhari, charged Nurses and Midwives to remain faithful to the key values of their profession.
He, further called on nurses, midwives and all healthcare professionals, to work together to protect and restore, where need be, the health of Nigerians.
On his part, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NCL), Ayuba Wabba, called on the federal government to remove what he described as, the regulatory barriers to the upward mobility of nurses and midwives in the healthcare system.
He regretted that many nurses and midwives have remained stagnant in their career progression despite attaining Doctoral and Professorial status in key areas of specialisation.
Speaking, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Comrade Rafiu Adeniji, lamented that shortage of manpower, inadequate training institutions, and insecurity are some of the challenges hindering the effective practice of nursing and midwifery in the country.
“In most hospitals, when there are terror attacks, nurses are the first victims. Many abducted nurses and midwives are still held captives by terrorists and bandits, but focus is not placed on them.
“While we lament shortage of manpower, there is no doubt that attacks on health facilities negatively impacts the morale of nurses and midwives,” Adeniji said.
