PREAMBLE

The APHPN held its 30th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting at the Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt from 9th - 14th March, 2014. This year's Conference theme was "Environmental Health Stretegies for National Development," Thematic areas covered during the scientific paper presentations included Environmental Social and Health Assessment for Sustainable Development, Occupational Health Challenges, Primary Health Care, Health for All in Diverse and Hard-to-reach Communities, Health related MDGs, Count down to 2015.

The Hon. Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, represented by the Chief Medical Director of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Prof Etete Peters, attended the opening ceremony. This year's Lsaac Ladipo Oluwole Memorial lecture title "Public Health And Ecosystem Intergrity in The 21st Century: The way forward in Nigeria" was delivered by Dr. (Mrs.) Ngeri Setima Benebo, Director General, NESREA. Dr.Isaac Ladipo Oluwole, the acclaimed "Father of Public Health in Nigeria", championed the combat for healthy environment through environmental sanitation and food hygiene to combat diseases in the early 20th century. Today Nigeria in the 21st century, is stile grappling with diseases sessions of the conference and arising from the Annual General Meeting, the following observations and recommendations were made.

 

OBSERVATIONS

1. Human activities are still degrading the enviroment and polluting the air, soil and water with irs nagative health impact there being little or no mitigation in most parts of the country. The fallout from the ever increasing air, soil and water pollution and degradetion continue to impact negatively on the health of the Nigerian population both in the short and long term

2. Health equilty and sustainable development as recommended by the Rio Declaration which are keys to achieving universal health coverage, cannot be attained in the face of uncontrolled industralization and ummitigated urbanization activites. This has severely affected our ecosystem due to lack of enabling control and regulatory laws and adherence to prevailing relevant guidelines already in place. 

3. Our weak health system is still tackling manpower turf encroachment in the area of environmental health. This is viewed with utmost concern as this will distract the goal towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in healthcare delivery.

4. Nigerians are still stuggling with the challenges of access to basic needs of life and limbibing healthy practices. Environmental risk factors which are modifiable are responsible for approximately a quarter of the global burden of disease. There is alack of collaboration and coordination amongst releventstakeholders for holistic environmental health practice for the popualce.

5. We have observed with concern the inappropriate designation of Health workers by the Local Government Service Commission to head PHC facilities in some States. This is retrogressive and does not reflect best practicers within the health sector.

6. Inadequate and inappropriate healthcare funding has remained the bane of effective health services delivery in Nigeria.

7. We commend the NASS for facilitating the passage of the National Health Bill with Hope that the process will soon be completed for Mr. Presidents accent.

8. Tobacco use and abuse has contined to be a major factor in environmental pollution and illness burden across the country

9. While we commend the Federal Government's giant stride towards improving health coverage for Nigerias as exemplified by the Presidential summit on universal health coverage, we are yet to see spirited engagement of the informal and private sectors in Community Based Health Insurance Scheme whic has been identified as a major approach towards achieving universal health coverage.

10. The association also observed with serious concern the wanton destruction lives and properties, especially women, helpless school children; and country as a result of security challenges. Worse still and given our poor health indices, the total or near total collapse of health care delivery services in that part of the country calls for serious cencern.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. While the APHPN is ready to partner with Government and other relevant agencies, there should be concerted/deliberate effort by the Government to close up the apparent gap between the MOH and MOE and other major stakeholders on all activities regarding the environment that has contined to have a deleterious effect on human health with MOH driving the aspect of health as recommended by WHO .

2. The Federal government government should adopt the Health in all Policies (HiAP) of the WHO to ensure integration of health equity and sustainable development concerns in all facets of governance in order to achieving the universal health coverage targets

3. Concerted efforts should be made towards harmonizing and implementing all relevant laws pertaining to the environment and health  as part of a major sectoral reform agenda, such as the National Tobacco Control Bill for enforcement to reduce disease burden caused by communicable and non-communicable diseases.

4. States that are yet to designate Medical Officers of Health as heads of Primary Health Care should without further delay, and deploy incentives to ensure sustainability and align with best practices in healthcare delivery.

5. There should be continued commitment by Government at all levels in getting the informal, organized private sectors and civel society to buyt into the Community Based Health insurance Scheme.

6. There is the need for Federal Goverment to adhere strictly to the 2005 Abuja Declaration that recommeded 15% of the Nation;s annual budget to health as a basic human right.

7. The Federal Government's stride at curtailing the security challenges in certain parts of the country is commendable. However, the association wishes to enjion the government to intensify efforts to ensure the security of lives and property of all Nigerians in the troubledspots and indeed all over the country

Signed

Prof T.M Akande      National Chairman     

Dr S.A.Aderibigbe    Secretary General