SOKOTO- Dr Osarenkhoe Omoruyi, a consultant surgeon at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on the health sector.
Omoruyi told newsmen in Sokoto that provision of functional basic health facilities would address the health challenges facing healthcare delivery in the country.
He said that diseases can be picked up early and effective treatment instituted to prevent them from deteriorating at which point it becomes a threat to life.
The consultant explained that basic health facilities were needed at the primary health care level as this would address up to 70 per cent of most health condition.
He said that adequate medical and health personnel should be recruited to manage health facilities in the country to ensure the delivery of effective and qualitative healthcare across the country.
Omoruyi observed that in meeting above objectives local government councils should also ensure adequate funding of primary health care services within their jurisdictions.
Besides, the expert urged state governments to ensure proper funding of the secondary level of healthcare while the federal government took care of tertiary health facilities.
He underscored the need for provision of basic infrastructure and equipment as well as adequate manpower to effectively ensure the provision of qualitative and affordable healthcare services to Nigerians.
He also called on the federal government to ensure all tiers of government meet the minimum budgetary provision of 15 per cent as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Omuruyi also suggested an effective training and retraining of medical and health personnel to meet modern challenges of managing and delivering qualitative and affordable healthcare services.
“Federal government should ensure international best practices in health care delivery services in Nigeria to achieve effective health care delivery,’’ he said.