Nigeria’s health system saw both major setbacks and some noteworthy advancements in 2024. Less than 5% of the National Budget went towards health spending, which was less than the 15% pledged in the Abuja Declaration. The year had outbreaks of monkeypox, Lassa fever, cholera, and a COVID-19 fear, with Cholera cases increasing by 220% and accounting for 359 fatalities. Nigeria also experienced a food and Malnutrition crisis, affecting 32 million people as a result of the elimination of Subsidies and inflation. Health issues were made worse by flooding in 31 states.
In just four years, 57,000 nurses and midwives left the nation, leaving 55,000 doctors to care for millions of people. This was a massive brain drain. Despite this, there was progress made towards universal health coverage, as 18.7 million people were covered by state and federal programs. Additional accomplishments included the first bone marrow transplant in the area and the distribution of Malaria vaccinations to infants under one year old in a few states. Healthcare was intended to be improved by policies like the Executive Order on Pharmaceuticals and free caesarean sections for expectant mothers, but their execution was difficult.
There was a notable increase in cholera cases in the nation.
Improvements in maternity services and data-driven health outcomes were emphasised by stakeholders, but they also emphasised the need for stronger implementation and budget allocation. Based on comparative data and firsthand reports from stakeholders, Nigeria’s health industry showed both development and ongoing difficulties in 2024. The 2024 federal budget for health was ₦1.17 trillion, or less than 5% of the overall budget. The fact that this amount is still far less than the 15% goal established by the Abuja Declaration in 2001 suggests that foreign health financing pledges are still not being met.
With a 2.41% year-over-year growth in Q2 2024, the health sector’s share of Nigeria’s GDP increased slightly from 1.95% in the same quarter of 2023. This represents an improvement of 0.46 percentage points, indicating modest Economic Growth in the industry. There was a notable increase in cholera cases in the nation; between January and September 2024, 10,837 suspected cases and 359 fatalities were recorded. This highlights deteriorating Public Health issues since there was a 239% rise in fatalities compared to the same period in 2023.
Nig. launched its mpox immunisation campaign in November, 2024.
Concerned about the return of diseases like cholera and monkeypox, Dr. Raymond Kuti, President of the Guild of Medical Directors, said, “The unfortunate re-emergence of malnutrition, cholera, monkeypox, and COVID-19 in some parts of the country; these are diseases which had been overcome years back.” Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, recognised the difficulties, pointing out that there are currently only 55,000 licensed physicians in the nation. He underlined the necessity of better healthcare regulations to deal with disease outbreaks and a lack of workers.
More so, Nigeria first received 846,000 doses of the Oxford R21 Malaria Vaccine in October 2024. In an important step against malaria, the rollout started in the states of Kebbi and Bayelsa, focussing on children under the age of one. In November 2024, Nigeria launched its Mpox immunisation campaign, vaccinating immunocompromised people and healthcare personnel. With 94 confirmed cases this year, the goal of this program is to stop the spread of Mpox. In September of 2024, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital successfully performed the nation’s first local bone marrow transplant for sickle cell illness in partnership with the Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria. This achievement gives Nigerians hope for more reasonably priced healthcare options.
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To guarantee sufficient funding for healthcare services and infrastructure, the government should match the health budget to the 15% goal set forth in the Abuja Declaration. Improve infectious disease surveillance and response systems to stop outbreaks and efficiently handle public health emergencies. Reduce healthcare professionals’ emigration by putting retention policies into place and enhancing working conditions. To get greater immunisation coverage, make sure that vaccines, such as those for Mpox and Malaria, are distributed throughout the country. Expand public Education initiatives emphasising the value of immunisations and preventative healthcare practices. By addressing these areas, Nigeria can build upon its achievements and tackle ongoing challenges to improve health outcomes for its population.