Abuja, 13 July 2016 - His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed with Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director (RD) for Africa, on the need for increasing domestic funding for health in Nigeria.

The President told Dr Moeti, who was accompanied by Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and WHO Country Representative, Dr Rui Gama Vaz; that his administration will continue to prioritize the health sector for government funding.

A health intervention programme initiative aimed at kick starting accelerated attainment of health improvement for the citizenry will soon be launched.

“Under the Federal Government’s health intervention programme, the Federal Ministry of Health will provide free surgery to 10,000 poor and needy Nigerians who are registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme”, President Buhari stated.

The programme, which is expected to commence on July 18, in 46 health facilities across the country will also provide interventions such as free breast and cervical cancer tests to 18,000 Nigerians and free diabetes and hypertension tests for 500,000 Nigerians.

Furthermore, the President directed the Federal Ministries of Health, and Information and Culture, to reinvigorate their strategies in concert with State governments in order to galvanize the support needed to sustain Nigeria’s polio-free status and ensure that Nigeria is finally certified polio free by 2017.

‘‘We have not recorded any case of polio in the last two years but we should not be complacent”, President Buhari stated.

He appealed to WHO and other UN agencies as well as other humanitarian actors to support the government in the welfare of the newly liberated population in the North East and those in internally displaced camps.

Briefing the President earlier, Dr Moeti who commended the Federal Government’s health programme, encouraged him to continue the change agenda as she is also committed to doing same in WHO African Regional Office in order to save more lives.

She observed that polio infrastructure which has been supporting other programmes needs to be preserved as she is presently talking to donors to assist with transitional planning. The RD however appealed to the government to absorb some staff as they are important for universal health coverage

Meeting with leadership of the National Assembly

From the State House, Dr Moeti and her entourage proceeded to the National Assembly Complex where she held separate meetings with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara and the President of the Senate, Honourable Bukola Saraki who confirmed their readiness and continued support to the health sector towards increased federal budgetary allocations.

Dr Moeti leaves Nigeria on Wednesday, 13 July 2016 after what was adjudged as highly successful 3-day visit.

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01 President Buhari of Nigeria welcoming the WHO RD, Dr Moeti to the State House in Abuja

02 From right-Prof. Isaac Adewole, President Muhammadu Buhari, Dr. Moeti, Dr Rui Vaz,  Dr Ado Mohammed and Dr Pascal Mkanda.