The current administration is endangering public health, according to the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN).

Alphonsus Isara, the President of the association made this statement at the 40th Annual General Meeting, Scientific Conference, and Golden Jubilee Celebration of the organization in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.

“Healthcare, especially public health, is in danger in the current dispensation,” Isara stated.

Nigeria’s healthcare delivery faces several evident challenges, including a very weak healthcare system, depleted human resources due to a large-scale brain drain, particularly in recent years, poor infrastructure, health insecurity (the risk of medical treatment), an uncoordinated approach to healthcare, a lack of political will on the part of the government, etc.

According to Isara, “the current political climate in Nigeria has brought about a deluge of public health issues that are endangering the nation’s healthcare delivery system.”

“There are numerous evident cracks in the foundation of the health system.” He continued, saying, “There is a drastic depletion of the health workforce caused by brain drain, as many health workers have left Nigeria in drones in search of better opportunities abroad.” 

“Many folks find it difficult to receive healthcare because of the existing socioeconomic challenges.”

“Policies and other circumstances have hindered manufacturing companies from functioning effectively in Nigeria, resulting in the majority of individuals not having access to medical products, especially drugs.

“With advocacy, committed service delivery, stakeholder engagements, and member capacity building, APHPN will keep pushing for an improved healthcare system in Nigeria.”

He declared, “APHPN is always prepared and eager to work with the Federal Ministry of Health, other pertinent agencies, and pertinent stakeholders in the current government’s Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Program.

The conference, according to the president, will propose solutions to the current problems facing Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system during plenary sessions and scientific paper presentations.

Repositioning public health services for more effective, efficient, and better healthcare delivery is one approach to do this.

One approach to do this is to reposition public health services to provide healthcare more effectively and efficiently. In this political climate, repositioning public health is a difficult but necessary effort.

The President declared, “Outbreaks of several infectious diseases are a constant challenge to the Nigerian health care system.”

He enumerated the diseases, citing Lassa fever, Yellow fever, cholera, and cerebrospinal meningitis, and emphasized that the association would push for the adoption of infection control practices in Nigeria at the community and facility levels.

Nonetheless, Isara demanded that the Department of Public Health be established in all of our nation’s secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.

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