A new report has revealed that no state in Nigeria is prepared to deal with, prevent or mitigate the health emergency.
All 36 states scored below the minimum readiness standard of 40 out of 100, according to a report released Tuesday by African intelligence firm SB Morgen.
The report ranks states’ preparedness using indicators such as per capita health spending, average household size, human development index, physician-to-population ratio, infant mortality rate, and life expectancy at birth.
It also considers immunization coverage for infants 12 to 35 months of age across 36 states.
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According to the report, Lagos ranks highest in Nigeria on the Health Preparedness Index (HPI) with a failing score of 25.09. Both states are still in the same category, although Yobe State is at the bottom with a score of 11.83.
SBM HPI covering 36 states in Nigeria.
“Certain factors are given more weight in HPI calculations: the state’s per capita health budget and the percentage of the total budget allocated to health each have a weight of 10 points,” the report said. I am.
“Doctor-patient ratio is given the most weight at 30 points, followed by infant mortality at 25 points. Household size is also considered, but with 5 points less weight.
“Despite some improvement in health budget allocation in various states, the overall health situation in Nigeria remains a concern.Many states are struggling with health problems exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure development. I keep fighting.”
The report highlights the urgent need for sustained and strategic investment in health infrastructure, human resources and service delivery across all states to strengthen health preparedness across Nigeria.
Furthermore, it was revealed that although health budget allocations increased in 30 states from 2021 to 2023, they still fell short of the health preparedness index.
An FIJ study of the health budget allocation of one state from each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones showed that at least N13 billion was allocated to the health sector by these states.
The Lagos State Government has allocated NOK 162 billion to the health sector in its 2024 budget. Mr. Kano received a score of 14.61 on the HPI and allocated NOK 72 billion.
The south-south Delta state set aside NOK 18.65 billion for health projects in 2024, but scored 20.78 points on the HPI.
In North-Central, Kwara allocated N32.34 billion for health but scored 20.46 on the index. Adamawa in the northeast scored 13.22 points and ranked among the seven least prepared states despite allocating N13 billion for health care.
Abia state in the southeast ranks among the top nine states with a score of 20.97. 85 billion was allocated to the health sector.
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According to the 2022 report of the National Population Commission (NPC), which highlighted life expectancy as a key indicator, Nigerian men are expected to live 54 years and 9 months, while women are expected to live 59 years and 6 months.
Interestingly, life expectancy for women is the lowest in Adamawa at 51 years and 4 months, while it is the highest in Cross River.
For men, life expectancy in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe is the same: 49 years and 1 month. On the other hand, the average life expectancy for men is the highest in Ogun, Ekiti, Cross River and Imo at 59 years and 6 months.
