As part of a new global initiative to meet the basic health needs of the people by various governments in Africa, Nigeria’s Health Minister, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin has advocated for the domestication of the new ‘Health District’ strategy of health administration in the region.
Professor Osotimehin made this call in Kigali, Rwanda when he chaired the Roundtable discussion on Sharing Best Practices in Strengthening Local or District Health Systems during the 59th Regional Committee meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Kigali, Rwanda.
The session received presentations from the Health Ministers of Ghana, Burkina Faso, Rwanda and Uganda.
Professor Osotimehin emphasized that meeting the basic health needs of the people requires government to define policies and ensure their successful implementation at local or district level.
A ‘health district’ he posited, refers to a clearly defined administrative area covering a population at which some form of local government or administration takes over many responsibilities from central government departments.
The minister added that the concept of District Health System, widely promoted by WHO is the most important level for improving efficiency and responding to local health priorities and demands with focus on high impact health interventions.
The district, he reiterated is in a better position to address local challenges through seizing local opportunities and responding to people’s health needs.
The roundtable which would enable countries to share experiences and lessons learned in strengthening their local or district health systems to scale up essential health interventions, when domesticated, would have the potential of being replicated or adapted in other countries in the region.
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