The National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), in partnership with the Development Research and Projects Centre (DRPC), has advocated for the promotion of health issues across local government regions in an effort to better the lot of citizens.
Speaking at a policy dialogue on strengthening health governance in Nigeria at the institute in Jos Plateau State, NIPSS Director General Ayo Omotayo stated that the sector is facing a severe crisis caused by poor primary health care delivery, poor health infrastructure, insufficient personnel, poor handling of health emergencies, and the absence of health planning at the local government level, including resource diversions and the absence of autonomy.
Prof. Omotayo stated that the dialogue will examine the state of health governance at the local government level, identify the key drivers of health governance, evaluate the challenges that health governance faces at that level, and then make policy recommendations to promote health governance at the local government level in Nigeria.
He urged political parties to make health issues a priority in their next election campaigns, stating that the parties will eventually establish governments at the national and state levels, and they will be required to prioritize health in their programming and operations.
