Stakeholders Push for School-Aged Healthcare Reform
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Stakeholders in Nigeria’s health sector are sounding the alarm on the country’s neglect of school-aged children’s health. Despite progress in reducing mortality rates among children under five, those between 5-17 years remain woefully underserved.
Prince Agwu, Lead Researcher at Health Policy Research Group, emphasized that existing policies aren’t translating into tangible benefits for this age group. Malaria, fever, and respiratory infections are prevalent among school-aged children, yet they receive scant attention.
Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, echoed Agwu’s concerns, highlighting gaps in school health services. She noted that primary healthcare responsibilities to schools aren’t being fulfilled, and economic and human resource constraints are hindering effective health service delivery.
With approximately 65 million children in Nigeria, the need for collaboration to bridge the gap between primary healthcare centers and urban schools is urgent. The PUSH project aims to evaluate and enhance existing child health policies for children aged 5-17 years.
The policy dialogue brought together stakeholders from various sectors, including religious leaders, children’s parliament representatives, academics, and policymakers, to address the pressing issue of school-aged children’s health in Nigeria.
