A civil society organisation, Coalition of Concerned Nigerians on Health Reform, has passed a vote of no confidence on the Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency in Nigeria’s health sector.
In a statement read by the Coordinator of the group, Muniretu Isa, titled ‘Enough Is Enough: Declare a State of Emergency in Nigeria’s Health Sector Now,’ the coalition said: “We have lost confidence in Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate as the Coordinating Minister of Health.
“The Coalition of Concerned Nigerians on Health Reform calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency in Nigeria’s health sector. The crisis confronting our healthcare system has reached a level where ordinary policy measures are no longer sufficient. Millions of Nigerians are paying the price through delayed treatment, avoidable deaths and declining access to quality healthcare.”
Workforce crisis, failing facilities
The group highlighted Nigeria’s severe shortage of medical personnel: “For a nation of over 220 million people, Nigeria has only about 55,000 licensed doctors available to serve its population, as stated at the ordinary general meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors.
