National Health Policy
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What is a Policy?
National Health Policy
NIGERIAN NATIONAL HEALTH CARE POLICY 1988
When Proff. Olikoye Ransome Kuti was Fed. Minister of Health
NIGERIAN NATIONAL HEALTH CARE POLICY 1988
DECLARATION
NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY DECLARATION
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
The federal, state and local governments of Nigeria
hereby commit themselves and all the people to intensive
action to attain the goal of health for all citizens by the
year 2000 and beyond, that is, a level of health that will
permit them to lead socially and economically productive
lives at the highest possible level
1. NATIONAL HEALTH POLICY DECLARATION
FEDERAL REPULIC NIGERIA
The federal, state and local governments of Nigeria
hereby commit themselves and all the people to intensive
action to attain the goal of health for all citizens by the
year 2000 and beyond, that is, a level of health that will
permit them to lead socially and economically productive
lives at the highest possible level
All Governments of the Federation are convinced that
the health of the people not only contributes to better
quality of lives but is also essential for the sustained
economic and social development of the country as a whole
The people of this nation have the right to participate
individually and collectively in the planning and
implementation of their health care. However, this is not
only their right, but also their solemn duty.
Primary health care is the key to attaining the goal of
health for all the people of this country. Primary health
care is essential health care based on practical,
scientifically sound and socially acceptable methods and
technology made universally accessible to individuals and
through their full involvement and
at a cost that the community and State can afford to
maintain at every stagfamilies in the community e of their development in the spirit
of self-reliance.
It shall form an integral part both of
the national health system, of which it is the central
function and main focus, and of the overall social and
economic development of the community.
All Governments and the people are determined to
formulate strategies and plans of action, including action
to be taken by local governments, to launch and sustain
primary health care in accordance with this national health
policy.
All Governments agree to co-operate among themselves in
a spirit of partnership and service to ensure primary health
care for all citizens, since the attainment of health by
people in any one State directly concerns and benefits every
other State in the Federation
The Federal Government undertakes:-
(a) to provide policy guidance and strategic support to
States in their efforts at establishing health systems
that are primary health care and are accessible to all
their people;
(b) to coordinate State efforts in order to ensure a
coherent, nationwide health system;
(c) to provide incentives in selected health fields to the
best of its economic ability to promote this endeavor;
and
(d) in collaboration with the State Government, to
undertake the overall responsibility for monitoring
and evaluation of the implementation of the health
strategy.
1.8 All Governments accept to exercise political will to
mobilize and use all available health resources rationally.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING THE NATIONAL
HEALTH POLICY
This national health policy to achieve health for all
Nigerians is based on the national philosophy of social
Justice and equity. A health system based on primary health
care is adopted as the means of achieving the goal.
The national philosophy is founded on the principles of
social justice and equity. This philosophy is clearly
enunciated in the 2nd National Development Plan, 1970-1974,
which described the five national objectives to make
Nigeria:-
(a) a free and democratic society;
(b) a just and egalitarian society;
(c) a united, strong and self-reliant nation;
(d) a great and dynamic economy;
(e) a land of bright and full opportunities for all
citizens.
. NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
Federal, State and Local Government shall support in co-ordinated a manner a three-tier system of health care.
Essential features of the system shall be its comprehensive
nature, multisectoral inputs, community involvement and
collaboration with non-governmental providers of health
care.
CONSTITUTIONAL BACKGROUND
(a) In the Constitution of 1979, health is on the.
concurrent list of responsibilities with the exception
of the external health relations
quarantine and the
control of drugs and poisons which are exclusively the
responsibility of the Federal Government. The
Constitution also assigns specific responsibilities to
the Local Governments (Fourth Schedule to the
Constitution);
(b) The national health care system is built on the basis
of the three-tier responsibilities of the Federal,
State and Local Governments;
(c) Schedules of responsibilities which are to be assigned
to the Federal, State and Local Governments
respectively, shall be prepared for approval by the
Federal Ministry of Healt
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR
(a) A variety of non-governmental agencies, especially
religious bodies, provide health care including both
curative and preventive services;
LEVELS OF CARE
(a) National Health Care System shall be developed at three
levels viz:
Primary Health Care Level
i. Primary Health Care shall provide general health
services of preventive, curative, promotive and
rehabilitative nature to the population as the
entry point of the health care system
as the
entry point of the health care system. The
provision of care at this level is largely the
responsibility of Local Governments with the
support of State Ministries of Health
Traditional health practitioners shall be trained
to improve their skills and to ensure their
cooperation in making use of the referral system in
dealing with high risk patients. Governments of
the Federation shall seek to gain a better
understanding of traditional health practices, and
support research activities to evaluate them
Secondary Health Care: The Secondary health care level
shall provide specialized services to patients referred
from the primary health care level through out-patient
and in-patient services of hospitals for general
medical, surgical, paediatric patients and community
health services
Tertiary Health Care: Tertiary health care, which
consists of highly specialised services shall be
provided by teaching hospitals and other special
hospitals which provide care for specific diseases,
conditions of specific groups
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