Health Experts Speak On Buhari's Proposed Ministers

This story, written by Nnenna Ibeh, originally appeard on Naij, and is published here as written on Naij. Nnenna is a member of the Champions for Maternal and Newborn Health (C4MNH), a group of journalists interested in promoting the health of pregnant women and newborns. MamaYe is a strong supporter of C4MNH. Photo by @Morooph."Following concerns over the delayed appointment of ministers in Nigeria, health experts have said no matter how long it takes, the right steps should be taken by the president, Muhammadu Buhari.Speaking to Naij.com, David Olayemi, the head of advocacy and campaign for Save the Children said the president should take all the time he needs to get everything right in Nigeria, especially the health sector.Olayemi said because Nigerians expect much from the president, mistakes on ministerial appointments would not be tolerated.“In my capacity as David Olayemi, a senior health practitioner in Nigeria, as far as I am concerned, I think one of the painful aspects of change is the fact that people do not expect that things will be done differently,” Olayemi said.READ ALSO: How PDP Senators Set To Sabotage President Buhari’s MinistersHe said the time Buhari has taken to appoint ministers since his inauguration as president will help him (Buhari) understand the terrain and know who fits where as regards ministries.“I believe it is a very good thing that the president has taken his time to do this because he is coming in fresh as a president, he needs to understand the terrain very well personally before he complicates it by bringing personalities that will make it difficult for him to achieve any set goal or change anything.” he said.However, Olayemi said the implementation of the national health bill which was signed in July 2014 by the former president, Goodluck Jonathan have suffered setback due to the absence of a minister.Olayemi said, “Now regarding health, one area that I believe has been affected is the delay in implementing the national health Act and the hope therefore is that if the president appoints the right person then the fellow would most likely come, hit the ground running.”The National Health Act once enacted will make it possible for some certain amount of money to be channeled for universal health coverage for all Nigerians.READ ALSO: Just Few Days To Deadline, Read What presidency Is Saying About Ministerial ListIt will set standards in health care services rendered in facilities across Nigeria, eliminate practices by medical quacks as well as promote professionalism among care givers.The act will also ensure the provision of one per cent of Nigeria’s consolidated revenue fund for the development of primary health care which all states are expected to tap for the improvement of primary health care services in the states.Olayemi said a new minister of health would help the sector regain all the time lost in the bill’s implementation.“But that is if the president appoints the right person, I believe we have a very good chance now to get it right,” he added.On the execution of capital projects in the health sector, the health practitioner said he believes that a square peg in a round hole will get things messed up in the ministry.READ ALSO: Ministerial List: Aregbesola, Akande Wades Into Ondo APC CrisisHe said, “Personally, I believe that even if the ministers are there and the money is going the wrong way, things will still not be done anyway.”He added that it will be wrong to blame things going wrong in the health ministry on the absence of a minister for health.“We cannot blame what is happening and what is not happening on the basis of the absence of ministers but on the basis of a lot of wrong decisions taken in any case before now,” he said.He said it is unfortunate that most Nigerians jump into conclusions because of the unreliable facts available rather than looking at the context of a particular issue.“If a minister was appointed and because there is no money to implement activities they still unable to act, then what will the ministers do?” he asked.READ ALSO: When Senate Is Finally Set To Get Ministerial List“But if the president has taking his time to make sure loopholes are blocked and that the little money available is salvaged and used properly, I think that will be the best way to go,” he added.Another expert, a director in the health ministry who spoke to naij.com under anonymity said no vacuum has been created in the health ministry.“There has not been any vacuum created I must tell you, our permanent secretary I can say is able and more than able, I can attest to that,” the director said.He said the permanent secretary, Linus Awute who currently supervises the affairs of the health ministry has given so much support in handling the ministry.“For example, look at all the institutional problems we had, see how he handled them maturely and professionally, he also pay apt attention to every department in the the health sector”.The director said the permanent secretary has urged all directors to involve stakeholders in all programmes and activities in the ministry.“Mind you we have not had any funds at all for any program implementation this year but we have been able to get our partners and stakeholders to support us in bridging these gaps,” the director said.READ ALSO: DSS Is Done With Screening Of President Buhari’s MinistersThe director said it is expected that new health minister when appointed would continue to build on the successes achieved by the former health minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu and the permanent secretary, Linus Awute.“The new health minister should be able to harness all resources so that we do not loose any gains we have made so far within the health sector,” he said.Naij.com could not get the permanent secretary to comment on the implication of the absence of a health minister.The director of information, Ayotunde Adesugba said the permanent secretary and most directors who could speak on the matter were away for the United Nations General Assembly in Newyork.Adesugba also said she could not speak on the matter as the ministry’s spokesperson.”No, I will not speak on that,” Adesugba told Naij.comMeanwhile, the president in an interview in with France 24 said the ministerial list will be released before the month of September runs out.‘The end of the month is coming too quickly for my liking. Yeah, I will stick to it. I will send the names to the national assembly,” Buhari had said.Also names like that of renowned lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, economist, Pat Utomi and a former Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Limited,  Festus Odimegwu are said to have been sent to the state security services (SSS) for screening."