From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The World Bank on Monday in Asaba re-echoed the obvious story about the health system in the country.
The global organization declared that the Nigeria health system was in poor shape.
World Bank Consultant, Dr. Ashwin Budden who stated the obvious situation of the health system, said a lot of work needed to be done to improve healthcare service delivery in the country, noting that there is much room to improve.
Dr. Budden at the ongoing Delta State Health Summit.
“Nigeria, for a large population and even the wealth of the country, it’s health system is in poor shape.
“It has much room to grow and there is learning from other nations, learning from states across Nigeria about which area is performing well, which area is performing worse, so there is much grounds to make,” Budden said.
He disclosed that the World Bank chose to do a health assessment in Delta at the instance of the state government who he said, sought an opportunity for a health summit.
Budden explained that the health assessment was a first step to “really understand how the health system is performing, where are the weaknesses, where are the strengths and how we can use that as a basis for coming together to develop actions for the future of Delta State health system.”
The state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, in his remarks, noted that the summit, convened “a mere six-months” into the administration Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, was a significant milestone and
testament to the administration’s commitment to it’s M.O.R.E agenda.”
Onojaeme said the summit is “a direct extension of a rigorous Health Systems Assessment which allowed us to set baseline for long-term primary healthcare priority setting and planning for the state.”