He said that the policy, which was initially approved by the National Council on Health, was extensively deliberated by the council before the final approval.

According to him, the policy is the third health policy in the history of Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the first national health policy was in 1988, while the second policy was produced in 2004. “This new policy will provide directions necessary to support the achievements of significant progress in terms of improving the performance of the national health system. “It also lays emphasis on primary healthcare as the bedrock of our national health system in addition to the provision of financial risk protection to all Nigerians particularly the poor and vulnerable population. “This administration is reputed for being pro-poor and we are quiet committed to alleviating the problem of the poor Nigerians, the vulnerable the unemployed and the disadvantaged,’’ he said.

The minister also explained that before arriving at the new health policy, his ministry constituted a technical working committee, chaired by former minister of health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, “to look into the country’s context, the challenges, what went wrong in the past and how we can reposition the health sector’’.

According to the minister, the policy captures the essentials of ensuring the reduction of maternal and child mortality, wider immunisation coverage and better control and prevention of public health emergencies.

He expressed optimism that Nigerians would be proud of the nation’s health system when fully implemented. Adewole also said his ministry would be signing an MoU with the European Union who would be intervening in the nation’s health facilities in the 774 local government areas of the federation.

Source:Swankpharm