An NGO, Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF), said it had impacted 32 million lives in its four years of operating in the country’s health system.
The Managing Director, Dr Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to her, the feat was achieved through four pillars including health service delivery, healthcare workforce development, health literacy, and policy advocacy.
“On health service delivery, we had 4.9 million people received vaccination for COVID 19; 156,125 under-five children immunised against childhood diseases; 20,651 pregnant women vaccinated against tetanus and diphtheria.
“For the healthcare workforce, we had 12,000 healthcare workers trained on immunisation; 3,962 youths trained on advocacy for health insurance, drug abuse and immunisation.
“We also had four nation-wide campaigns to generate demand for COVID vaccines, childhood immunisation, HPV vaccines and rehabilitation for substance abuse, “ she said.
The MD said also, that the fund educated 21.96 million people on preventive measures through campaigns and local outreaches under its health literacy.
Chinye-Nwoko, however, expressed dismay over the quality of healthcare in the country’s health institutions due to brain drain.
According to her, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are leaving in their numbers.
“That is depleting the supply-side issue; we are struggling with the quality of care that we may need.
“We are seeing a doctor to 10,000 patients ratio; That is outrageous! It means that the time a doctor will spend with a patient will be minimal and such patient may not get the quality care required,” she said.
She said the organisation would continue to support and collaborate with the government and other organisations to improve the country’s health system. (NAN)
