The Federal government has disclosed that it is working to make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for all Federal Civil servants in Nigeria.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman Presidential Steering Committee, Mr. Boss Mustapha, made the disclosure at the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum meeting in Abuja.
He said that federal civil servants are representatives of the government and could be assigned to represent the government sometimes and hence they need to be vaccinated.
Mustapha said, “The vaccine mandate will come. The world is gravitating towards that direction. I can tell you by the time western world vaccinates its people, you can’t get into any of the western countries without the vaccine certificate. So, its better we begin to prepare our people at home.”
He added that the government will make the vaccine available before imposing the mandate.
Mr. Mustapha also said that the government was building oxygen plants across Nigeria.
He also urged the Commissioners to provide extensive leadership in their states.
He also noted that Nigeria has been experiencing an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases but assured that Nigeria will successfully tend the tide of the third wave of COVID-19.
“It is time to sieze the opportunity of C0VID-19 to reposition the health sector because after COVID-19, the sector will not get the attention it is getting,” he said.
He commended the hands of fellowship extended by the private sector and assured partners and countries working in Nigeria that the government does not take their partnership for granted.
He noted that, “It is my expectation that all the challenges facing partnership relationship with states will be addressed in this meeting and the meeting will look into ways of resolving industrial disputes in the health sector.”
Mr. Mustapha pointed out that the government is appealing to striking doctors to sheathe their sword and return to work for the sake of Nigerians.
“I continue to appeal to them. In the midst of a pandemic, any form of strike is unnecessary,” he added.
On his part, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, while speaking at the meeting, said that there is the need for Nigeria to increase funding to the health sector.
“When you look at the issues and challenges in the health sector, the basic underlying factor is funding. Whether you are talking of the health infrastructure, equipment in the hospitals and human resource for health, the underlying factor is funding.
“Even if you have enough human resources in the health sector, you need to take care of emoluments, incentives, therefore you need a funding period that is why we need to find ways of increasing the funding in the health sector.
“We need to begin to tax commodities like alcohol, cigarettes, etc., which cause a lot of damage to the human body. Therefore, where the whole thing will end is in the health sector thereby increasing the spending in the health sector.
“That is why we are saying that if people take these things, let us find a way to put some tax on it so that we can get some money to fund the health sector in addition to existing funding structures,” Mamora said.
Reacting to the Doctors’ strike he said, “As a medical practitioner myself I am not saying that some of the issues raised are not genuine and legitimate, but we are saying that at this point in time, this is a period of pandemic.
“This is a period where almost the whole world is on its knees. Therefore it is not a time to start straining the health system. Even in a war situation you still come back to a roundtable.
“So my approach from day one is let us dialogue over these things. Secondly you need to know the system in which we operate. The way the Civil Service generally is structured is that you do not have a quick fix. There are processes and procedures that you need to go through to get things done.
“There is therefore a need for dialogue and patience in the overall interest of the oath that we all took as doctors on graduation, which is primarily that your patience shall be your first concern,” he added.
Dr Mamora also urged the states to take charge of the basic things that are in the realm of states.
He also urged the commissioners to continue to seek partnership and do everything possible to improve health in their states adding that attention should not be only focused on treatment but on prevention, caring for the vulnerable and health access.
The Commissioner for Health Cross River State, Dr. Betha Edu, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioners Forum, said that the commissioners are in Abuja to chart a way forward for health in their respective states.
She noted that Federal government policies will not work well if they are not stepped down in the state levels.
She said that the meeting will focus on “issues with the implementation of health policies, understanding the working of partners, spreading out of partners amongst states, the need for the private sector to step up their game and support more states in Nigeria and the need to change the disturbing indices in Nigeria.”
The US government, World bank, UNICEF and other stakeholders at the meeting, said that they are willing, committed and ready to help Nigeria improve its health sector.
The theme of the meeting is “Building a strong health sector in Nigeria through collaboration and strategic partnership.”