FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH & SOCIAL WELFARE

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 64TH NATIONAL COUNCIL ON

HEALTH (NCH) MEETING HELD AT AB FOUNDATION CIVIC CENTRE, ADO-
EKITI FROM 13TH – 17TH NOVEMBER, 2023

OPENING

1. The 64th regular session of the National Council on Health (NCH) Meeting was held
at AB Foundation Civic Centre, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State from 13th - 17th November 2023. As
provided for in the National Health Act (2014), the NCH is the highest policy-making body
on matters relating to health in Nigeria. The membership comprises the Honourable
Minister of Health who is the Chairman of the Council, the Honourable Minister of State
for Health, State Commissioners for Health of the 36 States, and the Honourable
Secretary of Health Services & Environment Secretariat, FCTA. The 64th NCH was chaired
by the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad
Ali Pate.

2. A total of 626 delegates registered and participated from the Departments,

Agencies and Parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, State
Ministries of Health and the Health Services & Environment Secretariat of the Federal
Capital Territory Administration, Abuja. Others in attendance were representatives of the
State Houses of Assembly and National Population Commission. There were also
delegates from Development Partners, Civil
Society Organizations, Organized Private Sector, Health Professional Regulatory
Bodies, Health Professional Associations and the Press.

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TECHNICAL SESSION

3. The 64th NCH was preceded by a two-day Technical Session from 13th – 14th
November, 2023 under the chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of
Health & Social Welfare, Ms. Daju Kachollom S., mni. During the technical session, there
were seven (7) technical presentations on the theme and sub-themes while Eighty-Two
(82) memoranda were considered. Following consideration of the 82 memoranda, the
Technical Committee recommended 18 memoranda to Council for approval; 43
memoranda were recommended to Council for noting; while 21 memoranda were stepped
down/withdrawn.

COUNCIL SESSION

4. The Council session which held on the 16th and 17th November, 2023, had the
theme: “BUILDING A RESILIENT AND INCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FOR A HEALTHY
NIGERIA” and sub-themes – “Strengthening Healthcare Access and Institutional
Governance as a Panacea for Attainment of Universal Health Coverage; Building a Skilled
and Motivated Workforce; Harnessing Evidence-Based Research and Development for
Better Health; Innovative Financing for a 21st Century Healthcare Agenda; Digital
Transformation and Health Information System.” The session commenced with an
opening ceremony.
5. The Honourable Commissioner for Health, Ekiti State, Dr. Oyebanji Filani welcomed
all Council members and other delegates on behalf of the Ekiti State Governor. This was
followed by goodwill messages delivered by the Rt. Honourable Speaker of the Ekiti State
House of Assembly, Representative of Development Partners Group, Country
Representative of WHO and the Representative of Civil Society Organizations.

6. The Country Director of the World Bank in Nigeria, Dr. Shubham Chaudhuri
delivered the keynote address on the theme: “Building a resilient and inclusive healthcare
system for a Healthy Nigeria.” In his address, he made a case for Nigeria to spend more
and smart on health in order to improve population health outcomes.

7. The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stressed the necessity for a
pragmatic response to the Human Resource for Health challenge. He emphasized the
importance of expanding the number of health workers graduating from our institutions
annually. Additionally, he urged states to be proactive in contributing to this ambitious
initiative by allocating increased funding to support the training of healthcare
professionals.

8. In his address, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare,Prof Muhammad
Ali Pate, reiterated the National Council on Health's theme. He emphasized key actions

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outlined in the 4-point blueprint of his administration and revealed the President's
approval for the adoption of a tailored Basic Healthcare sector-wide strategy. This
innovative approach he said, aims to enhance health outcomes by addressing Effective
governance, an Efficient, equitable, and quality health system, Unlocking value chains,
and ensuring Health Security. The overarching goal remains to save lives, minimize
physical and financial suffering, and ensure health for all Nigerians.

9. This was followed by a documentary on the views of Nigerians on service delivery in

Public Health Facilities

10. The Executive Governor of Ekiti State, His Excellency Mr Biodun Oyebanji delivered
the opening address and declared the Council open marking the commencement of the
64th National Council on Health meeting

11. The opening session of the meeting concluded with the delivery of the vote of thanks
by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health.

12. The technical session of the council meeting started with the Director, Health
Planning, Research and Statistics introducing the Honourable Coordinating Minister of
Health & Social Welfare to deliver his presentation. In his presentation, the Honourable
Coordinating Minister shared the strategic vision for the Health Sector [2023-2026],
including the key outcomes that will guide the strategic vision. He further shared details
of the Basic Health Care Sector-Wide Approach with Council members, and identified the
potentials inherent in approach. The approach is based on the 4-point blueprint agenda
highlighted above with positive enabler that is Data & Digitization (Digitize the health
system & have data backed decision making) and Financing (Increase effectiveness of
spend and alignment of spend with strategic priorities).

13. The Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Honourable Nasir Isa
Kwarra was invited to deliver a short presentation on the areas of collaboration. The
Chairman revealed that the commission is mandated to collect socio-economic and
demographic data, including the conduct of surveys like the NDHS. Furthermore, the NPC
is open to collaborating with the health sector at all levels in the areas of vital statistics
which includes registration of births and deaths in term of collection and analysis for
policy and decision making.

14. The Council witnessed a panel session anchored by Dr Olumide Okunola with the
Honourable Coordinating Minister and the Honourable Minister of State for Health as part
of the panelists. Other members of the panel include Dr. Gafar Alawode from the Civil
Society Organization, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo from WHO , Dr. Oyebanji Filani, the
Honourable Commissioner of Health in Ekiti State and Dr. Dave Mc Conalogue
representing the Donor group. The deliberation was on key areas from the technical
presentation by the Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

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COUNCIL MEETING

15. The Director, Health Planning, Research and Statistics invited the Honourable
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare who read out the procedure for the
meeting.

16. The proceedings and the status of implementation of the 63 rd NCH were adopted
as amended by the Council.

RESOLUTIONS

17. Following extensive deliberations, the Council considered a total of 82 memoranda

as presented by the Permanent Secretary FMOH, 16 memos were approved , 43 memos
were noted, and 23 memos were stepped down/withdrew by Council.
The following resolutions were approved:
The Federal Ministry of Health and her related Agencies and Parastatals to work with the
State Ministries of Health to

i. Consider opportunities to secure bilateral relationships with Nigerian migrant

health workforce destination countries to consolidate agreements on
remittances and knowledge transfer as well as targeted development
assistance specifically to support scale-up of production.

ii. Institutionalize the Nigerian Diaspora Health Knowledge and Skills Repatriation
program as a way to convert “Brain Drain to Brain Gain” both at the Federal
and State levels, and to include the programme in the revised National Strategic
Health Development Plan (NSHDP) II and also the development of a National
Health workforce production investment master plan and Charter to leverage
synergized and aligned public-private investment in sustainable national health
workforce production. Make plans to leverage on technology assisted education
and training modalities, along with established online curricula in collaboration
with health training institutions

iii. Adopt and ensure the implementation of Maternal, Infant and Young Child
Nutrition Training Courses at both the State and LGA levels.

iv. Conduct every 5 years, Impact Assessment of National Council on Health

Resolutions in all 36 States and FCT Abuja. The modalities and methodlogy for
the conduct of the assessment to be developed and coordinated by NCH
secretariat.

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 v. Adopt and ensure compliance for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in line with
the national PPP guidelines/regulation and establish PPP Units/ Departments in
all State Ministries of Health, Federal Ministry Health Agencies, and Parastatals
as a tool to bridge infrastructural gaps across all levels of the health sector in
the country. Also create a budget line in the Federal and States Ministries of
Health annual budgets while also seek funding for the program from extra
budgetary portfolios such as Public, Private, Philanthropic partnerships.

vi. Adopt the implementation of the NCD policy towards effective prevention and
control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the 36 States of the
Federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria.

vii. Adopt and implement the National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework in
the 36 States of the Federation and FCT.

viii. Adopt and implement the National Training Manuals on Snakebite Envenoming
Control, Prevention, Treatment and Management in Nigeria by the 36 States of
the Federation and FCT. Also to include local manufacturing of Anti-snake bite
venom and integrate snakebite Envenoming into pre-service training
curriculum.

ix. Commemorate the Health Promotion Day in Nigeria to promote preventive

healthcare and raise awareness about healthy lifestyles among the populace
which includes collaboration with relevant stakeholders, advocate for policy
changes, allocate resources and establish monitoring and evaluation
mechanisms at all levels.

x. Support the domestication and implementation of the Anti-Microbial Resistance

(AMR) Governance Manual.

xi. Adopt and implement 3rd edition of Nigeria Standard Treatment Guidelines
(NSTG) as a minimum standard for treatment and knowledge base for training
and education of all health care professionals and providers in the country.

xii. Adopt, disseminate and implement the report of the 2021 National Health
Account study for decision-making in our National Health System.

xiii. Secure a dedicated account for medical oxygen investment which shall be
managed by the Federal Government of Nigeria and also develop and
implement a Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) for the management of
these equipment.

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 xiv. Establish Budget Lines for Family Planning at both National and Sub-National
levels for the implementation of Nigeria’s Family Planning programme.

xv. Adopt and Implement the sector-Wide approach policy for Nigeria’s Health
Sector Renewal and commit to co-creation by the 36 States, FCT, and other
stakeholders as outlined.

xvi. Adopt and implement the National Drug Revolving Fund Scheme Operational
Guidelines and Standards of Practice, and its utilization by all health care
facilities in Nigeria
CONCLUSION
Following a motion for adjournment, the Council Session was adjourned by the
Chairman of the Council, the Honourable Coordinating Minister of the Federal Ministry of
Health and Social Welfare.

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