The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate. [PHOTO CREDIT: Official X handle of Mr Pate | via https://x.com/muhammadpate/status/1812790729107816486/photo/1] The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, says Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have become one of the fastest-growing segments of Nigeria’s disease burden, requiring urgent health system readiness.
Mr Pate said this on Thursday in Abuja at the unveiling of a book on Nigeria’s NCDs and health reforms, organised by the Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON). He said hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, sickle cell disease, cancers and neurological conditions were increasing due to lifestyle changes and an ageing population.
The coordinating minister said Nigeria’s health reforms began more than 20 years ago, culminating in the National Health Act, with significant progress recorded in the last three years. He said the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) had reduced maternal deaths by 22 per cent and newborn deaths by 10 per cent. He added that a recent mini Demographic and Health Survey showed increased skilled birth attendance, antenatal care and contraceptive prevalence.
Mr Pate said that malaria incidence had dropped to 15 per cent, the lowest in 20 to 30 years, based on survey statistics, but said HIV, tuberculosis and maternal mortality remained challenges. “NCDs, even though smaller, are becoming an increasingly faster-growing segment of our burden of disease,” he said. He said the federal government, through the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, had strengthened governance by bringing federal, state and local governments, civil society and the private sector together.
Mr Pate said the federal health budget allocation had increased to six per cent from about three to four per cent previously, while states were being encouraged to increase their funding.