For the Nigerian health sector to effectively deliver quality healthcare to the citizenry in the new year, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, must focus on primary healthcare. This, among others benefits, will help in curbing infant and maternal morbidity and mortality, as well as preventing the spread of infectious diseases across the country.
The Director General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Prof. Babatunde Lawal Salako, gave this charge during an exclusive interview with Pharmanews, at the recent Annual Retreat of the institute.
Salako also drew the attention of the government to the need to bridge the gaps in healthcare service provision as caused by brain drain in the healthcare workforce, stating that this is very crucial for any improvement to take place in the sector. He noted that the presently lean workforce cannot cater for the needs of the country’s teeming population.
The NIMR DG, who passed a vote of confidence on the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, based on their promise to reduce catastrophic spending for Nigerians, said: “Disease control is important because these are the areas where we receive a lot of morbidity and mortality. Our ministers should develop primary care to be able to take care of pregnancy-related issues, so that our children and mothers are not dying from preventable reasons. General awareness should be created more for some of these diseases that are ravaging our people.
“The first step is to replace lost health workforce. Government is not spending additional money through this exercise, because they are only keeping the number of people they already have. And that will improve the services within the country as it is now. Of course they must focus on primary healthcare, in the areas of immunisation.”
He added, “I believe that with the duo that we have currently at the federal ministry, and what we have heard them say, and if they are able to walk the talk, we should see an improvement in our health system in the new year.”
Speaking on the supervisory activities of the Federal Government over the institute, Salako said he understood the standard practice of supervision of the institute as a government parastatal. He, however, frowned at the idea of having too many supervisors coming to the agency at very close intervals, saying it is overburdening the management of the institute.
He particularly pleaded with the government to streamline the number of auditors frequenting the institute, in order to conserve energy from repetitive processes.
He said: “Auditing is an oversight function, so they don’t have too many, as we do have now. Most CEOs of many agencies are just keeping quiet; I think they are tired of many of these things. And I believe that they have to be streamlined.
“We are not saying that our work should not be supervised or reviewed. What we are saying is that let this not become overburdening to us. It is indeed overburdening us. On the long run, it’s not providing the benefit that it should provide. Rather, it’s providing more negative energy around the agency.”
Salako, who is winding up his tenure at the institute, also highlighted the milestone he has recorded within his eight–year tenure. These, according to him, include: promotion of academic staff, according to the university standard; creation of new units for the institution; establishment of NIMR Foundation; obtainment of research grants for work all over the world with funding institutions within Africa and outside Africa; appointment of the institute’s researchers by universities as adjunct researchers and professors, among others.
He specifically appreciated all staff of the institution for their support and commitment to the development of the institute, while urging them not to rest on their oars as there are still many grounds to cover.
Salako specially thanked members of the Board of Trustees of NIMR Foundation, including the 14th Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Prof. Oni Idigbe; Mrs Moji Makanjuola; and Professor Oyewusi Gureje, for their immense support to the foundation.
The high point of the retreat was the launch of hepatitis B testing kit, developed by a staff of the institute and the unveiling of NIMR Gender Equality Policy. Barrister Kenechukwu Agwu also took the staff on an exciting lecture on “Open communication at the workplace”.
