Five Reasons Why Nigeria Should Increase Its Health Budget #MakeNaijaStronger

It has become imperative that the Nigerian government allocates more funds to the health sector if more lives are to be saved. Read below five reasons why this is unavoidable.

1. HEALTH IS PARAMOUNT

They say “Health is wealth” and if you still doubt this, recollect the last time you had to spend the
night in a hospital. It does not matter how strong you are or how much money you have, if the services are not available (and yes, presently, a lot of these services are pretty much unavailable in Nigeria), then nothing else matters. Presently, Nigeria has unacceptable health indices, statistics show that we have one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world and Nigeria is one of the worst places to be a child. Deaths from preventable communicable diseases such as Pneumonia are very common and we have not even begun to look into the rising burden of deaths from non-communicable diseases such as cancer. 

2. THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROMISED TO INVEST MORE

In 2014, the National Health Act was signed into law. This law provides that the government must
direct one percent of the annual budget for the health sector. In 2015 President Buhari publicly
pledged additional funding for health, so that 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund would fund the Basic Health Care Provision Fund. As Africa’s biggest economy and making up almost a fifth of
the region’s population, Nigeria’s leadership and progress on health targets is crucial not only for the
country’s developmental gains and economic growth, but as a leading factor in progress of the whole region.

Through implementing the 2014 National Health Act, proceeding onwards to meet the Abuja Declaration, and rooting out corruption in the health sector, the Nigerian government now has
an historic opportunity to leverage global support, save millions of lives, and build a more prosperous and secure Nigeria.

3. DECREASE IN INTERNATIONAL FUNDING

It is no secret that the majority of our infectious diseases programs are largely funded by external
sources including the Global Fund. Over the years, this funding has reduced and there is a need for us to start looking inwards to funding our health interventions. By 2017, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization will no longer fund immunization; Global Fund has recently suspended funding of HIV, TB and Malaria programs in Nigeria. More than ever before, we need to start looking towards funding these programs internally. So, more money MUST go to the health sector or else whatever gains we have made in immunization, HIV/AIDS and other infectious disease prevention programs over the last couple of decades will be lost. 

4. RISING COST OF HEALTHCARE WORLDWIDE

Globally, there is an increase in the cost of health products and services due to international costing
and pricing mechanisms. Nigeria is by no means exempted from the effects of these rising costs so
we must prepare by ensuring that adequate funds are set aside for this all too important issue. By investing in health will ensure that vulnerable Nigerians such as rural women and children are
cushioned from the challenges this pricing increase presents. 

5. THE RIGHT THING TO DO! 

The current allocation to the health sector is insufficient to cater to the myriads of health
problems Nigeria is facing. If it is insufficient, the right thing to do is to INCREASE IT! After all, if
countries like Rwanda can do it, why can’t Nigeria?

We urge everyone to support the movement to ensure that Nigeria gets its health funding right in order to save precious lives. Please sign the petition by clicking here
Together we will build a stronger health system for Nigeria: #MakeNaijaStronger.

Culled from ONE Campaign blog.

''Light Up The Beach'' AIDS Memorial event

Save Our Needy joined the rest of the world on Sunday, May 15th, to mark the 33rd International AIDS Candlelight Memorial under the theme "Light Up The Beach."

Motunrayo Adebayo, facilitator from Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, interacting with participants

The event which held at Elegushi Beach, Lagos (Eden Bar), was an opportunity to honor all those who have passed away from AIDS. In a relaxed ambience, participants were better educated and informed about basic facts of HIV/AIDS by Mr. Motunrayo Adebayo, a facilitator from the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA).

Awareness raising on HIV/AIDS was also done at the event

One of the high points of the event was the interactive session with Chioma, who discovered her HIV status at the age of 15. She had unfortunately been subjected to contaminated blood transfusion at the age of 3! She relived her experiences which induced gasps from everyone present. It was indeed eye opening.

A ONE Champion was also on hand to shed more light on the current sad state of the Nigerian health system and the need for drastic reform and investments in the sector. He explained to participants the need to sign the petition on the one.org website urging the Nigerian government to increase budget allocation to the health sector under the theme "Make Naija Stronger.

At the end of the event, participants lit candles as a symbol of respect for all those who have died from AIDS.

Juwon of Mimer's Art thrilled participants at the event

Save Our Needy Program Manager, Jerry Odili, with Juwon of Mimer's Art

The CEO of Save Our Needy, Marvella Odili, expressed her satisfaction at the successful hosting of the event despite the heavy downpour..

From left: CEO, Save Our Needy, Marvella Odili, ONE members, Richard Emerenwa (middle), ONE Champion

ONE Members Campaign For Health Reform

Last Saturday, February 20^th, some ONE members took to the streets of Lagos, Nigeria to raise awareness on the need for reform in the health sector. The campaign drew a lot of interest from members of the public, some of whom joined the ONE members to urge the government to allocate more resources to the health sector in order to tackle the many issues plaguing the sector.They want a #PeoplesBudget2016.

Millions of women particularly in the rural areas still die during childbirth in Nigeria today. Another sad fact is that Nigerian children under the age of 5 are among the most malnourished children in the world today even though Nigeria’s economy is one of the largest in Africa.