The Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria has lamented that public health is now in danger under the current government of President Bola Tinubu. 

President of the association, Alphonsus Isara, stated this at the ongoing 40th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference and Golden Jubilee Celebration of the association, in Akure, Ondo State.  

“Healthcare, especially public health, is in danger in the present dispensation.” Mr Isara said on Tuesday. 

He noted that Mr Tinubu’s government had ushered in an avalanche of public health issues threatening the health care delivery system in the country.

Mr Isara also identified the various challenges to include the depleted human resources arising from the massive brain drain otherwise known as Japa and medical products which are now outside the reach of the common man.

He said, “The current socio-economic challenge is an impediment to accessing healthcare for many citizens. Medical products including drugs remain out of reach for the majority of citizens as a result of policies and sundry conditions that have prevented manufacturing companies from operating effectively in Nigeria. 

“The obvious challenges facing healthcare delivery in Nigeria include but not limited to the following: a weak healthcare system, depleted human resources arising from massive brain drain especially in recent times, poor infrastructure, health insecurity (healthcare in danger), uncoordinated approach to healthcare, lack of political will on the part of government, etc.’’ 

Noting that the challenges must be urgently addressed, Mr Isara added that the association members would brainstorm at the ongoing conference and present papers to proffer solutions to the current challenges in the nation’s healthcare delivery.  

He added that the association was willing to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health and health agencies in the country to initiate programmes that would improve the health sector.  

According to him, the association will continue to push for a better healthcare system in Nigeria through advocacy, dedicated service delivery, stakeholder engagements, and capacity building of its members. 

He noted, “One of the ways to achieve this is to reposition public health services for a better, effective and more efficient healthcare delivery. Repositioning public health in this political dispensation is an uphill task but one that must be done.’’ 

Mr Isara also explained that the Nigerian health care system was constantly being confronted by outbreaks of several infectious diseases.

He listed the diseases to include; Lassa fever, yellow fever, cholera, and cerebrospinal meningitis, stressing that the association would advocate for the domestication of the infection prevention protocols at both the community and facility levels in Nigeria. 

Mr Isara also called for the establishment of the Department of Public Health in secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in the  country. 

Peoples Gazette reports that the theme of this year’s conference is “Repositioning public health in a new political dispensation.”

The conference also drew participants mostly health practitioners from across the country