Health bill will resolve conflicts among professionals

Speaking on behalf of the coalition the Executive Secretary, Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON), Dr Muhammed Lecky, noted that the bill would ensure that all Nigerians benefit as it will contribute to the acceleration of the achievements of the MDGs.Speaking on the numerous disharmony among health professionals, Lecky pointed out that that the bill […]

Speaking on behalf of the coalition the Executive Secretary, Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON), Dr Muhammed Lecky, noted that the bill would ensure that all Nigerians benefit as it will contribute to the acceleration of the achievements of the MDGs.
Speaking on the numerous disharmony among health professionals, Lecky pointed out that that the bill provides for responsibilities, roles, definitions and limitations of each professional body adding that such rivalry will be laid to rest.
According to the HERFON executive secretary, the Health Bill represents the first attempt to provide legislative framework and dedicated funding sources to support PHC and this includes the provision for a national PHC Fund, which will significantly increase government financing for primary care.
Calling on the House of Representatives to follow suit by passing the bill, Lecky said, “We as a coalition will remain focussed towards achieving one health voice amongst professional bodies in the health sector. We wish to pledge to Nigerians that we will ensure accountability in the implementation of the bill when it is assented to by Mr President.”
Earlier the former director in the ministry of health and a health activist, Alhaji Shehu Sule called on all stakeholders to put pressure on the members of the House of Representative to pass the bill saying, “we have to see the chairman of the house committee on health so that they can  put the bill on fast track”.
According to him all regulatory agencies must be on alert to ensure that once the bill is passed funds are utilised judiciously while monitoring all those who have roles to play.
The Director of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Dr Abdulsalam Nasidi explained that for the bill to be sustainable the country has to commence activities that would make it less dependable on donor bodies.
He said, “ We must be self reliant, we must have make deliberate policies that would help us resolve our issues of sustainabilities.”