Gift Wada
In In an effort to enhance healthcare quality across Nigeria, the Federal Government has emphasized the necessity of dedicated funding to promote research in the health sector.
The minister of state for health, Tunji Alausa stressed that effective research is core to the revitalization of the health sector, hence the need for a dedicated Funds for Research Purposes.
The Minister stated this on Wednesday at a national strategic meeting on health research development and innovation held in Abuja.
He said “Today’s meeting is a testament to our collective commitment to fostering a robust health research ecosystem that not only addresses our current health challenges but also anticipates and prepares for future ones”
The Minister who insisted on a digitized research processes argued that it’s time for Nigeria to reflect on her progress, identify gaps, and chart a strategic path forward that leverages her strengths and resources.
During the event, Folasade Ogunsola, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, reiterated the importance of high-quality health research as a crucial component of the Health Sector Renewal Agenda. She pointed out that despite the potential benefits of health investments, resource-poor countries like Nigeria often struggle with the quality and reliability of research findings.
“Health research plays a critical role in shaping healthcare policies, improving treatment outcomes, and enhancing public health interventions. It provides data on disease trends, risk factors, treatment outcomes, public health interventions, functional abilities, care patterns, and healthcare costs,” Ogunsola noted.
Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed its commitment to supporting Nigeria in strengthening its health sector research, aiming for an improved health system.