Insecurity, workforce shortage threaten universal health coverage, Stakeholders

Nigeria's health sector stakeholders are warning that persistent insecurity, a critical shortage of healthcare workers, and insufficient funding pose significant threats to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). These challenges, along with weak constitutional provisions for healthcare, are seen as major obstacles to ensuring all Nigerians can access quality medical services.

During the 4th Annual Scientific Conference of the College of Health Sciences at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, experts stressed the urgent need for sustained investment, stronger policies, and improved security. Without these measures, millions, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas, will continue to face limited access to healthcare. Sokoto State is attempting to bridge the manpower gap with a two-year compulsory service policy for health professionals trained on state scholarships.

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Some primary healthcare centres in urban areas have as many as 80 health workers, while some facilities in rural communities are managed by only one health worker. This imbalance must be corrected if we are to provide equitable healthcare services.

The state's Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Abubakar, noted the uneven distribution of health workers, with urban centers having an abundance while rural facilities struggle with minimal staff. He outlined efforts to improve healthcare access, including awarding 500 scholarships for midwives, renovating over 160 primary healthcare centers, and restoring services in 92 facilities, aiming for all 244 PHCs to be operational by year-end.

Former House of Representatives member Dr. Shehu Kakale advocated for constitutional reforms to establish healthcare as a fundamental right, arguing that its current status as a non-justiciable socio-economic objective hinders government accountability. He also lamented Nigeria's failure to meet the 2001 Abuja Declaration's commitment to allocate at least 15% of national budgets to health. Insecurity further compounds the problem, with nearly 40% of primary healthcare centers in Sokoto East facing operational challenges due to bandit attacks, forcing communities to flee.

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Health should be recognised as a fundamental right of every Nigerian. Without constitutional backing and adequate legislation, achieving universal health coverage will remain difficult.