By Sharon Ivovi
ASABA/Nigeria: The House of Representatives Committee on Health has called for deeper collaboration between the federal and state governments, as well as key stakeholders in the health sector, to strengthen Nigeria’s primary healthcare system in line with the new Basic Healthcare Provision Fund.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Akiba Bassey, made the call on Tuesday in Asaba during a working visit to Delta State, where the committee met with the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, to review ongoing interventions and explore new strategies to improve service delivery.
Hon. Bassey said the visit was aimed at fostering stronger partnerships, sharing knowledge, and promoting innovative approaches to enhance healthcare access and outcomes nationwide. He commended the Delta State Government for what he described as remarkable progress in primary healthcare delivery, noting that the state’s achievements under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori serve as a model for other states.
He explained that the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund was established to expand access to quality healthcare, especially for the most vulnerable populations, and expressed optimism that improved coordination between all tiers of government would ensure the initiative’s success.
“We can help facilitate a better understanding of the challenges and gather feedback that makes our work more effective. When we share ideas across different states and institutions, we learn what is working elsewhere and how to improve what we are doing here,” Hon. Bassey said.
Welcoming the delegation, Delta State Commissioner for Health, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori commended the Federal Government for its contributions to the state’s health sector, noting that the interventions were already making visible impact across the state.
Dr. Onojaeme highlighted the significant progress recorded in various healthcare projects initiated by Governor Oborevwori’s administration, with most nearing completion at an impressive 85 percent execution level. He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery through strategic manpower deployment and investment in modern medical infrastructure.
He, however, stressed that funding remained a major challenge in the health sector and called on the Federal Government to sustain and increase its support to ensure continued growth and stability of the healthcare system.
