Prof. Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, has urged for greater investment in Nigeria's health sector despite the current budget allocation reaching six per cent, the highest in over ten years. He made the appeal on Friday in Abuja during the 25th West African Health Sector Unions Network (WAHSUN) Plenary Session. The event brought together health workers and policymakers from across the subregion to discuss pressing challenges in public health systems. Pate acknowledged the budget increase as a positive development but stressed that more funding is required to meet the needs of the population. He noted that the health sector continues to face systemic issues, including inadequate infrastructure and workforce shortages. The six per cent allocation falls short of the 15 per cent target agreed upon by African Union member states in the 2001 Abuja Declaration. Pate called for sustained political will and broader financial commitment to transform healthcare delivery in Nigeria. The WAHSUN meeting also highlighted cross-border health collaboration and the importance of strengthening primary healthcare systems.
Pate acknowledges a decade-high budget yet still demands more, exposing the gap between political milestones and tangible healthcare outcomes. The six per cent allocation remains below the 15 per cent Africa-wide pledge, leaving Nigerian patients at risk of continued system failures. No timeline or actionable plan was offered to close the gap, despite the minister's awareness of the shortfall. For Nigerians facing drug shortages and clinic closures, percentages without delivery mean little.
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