Concerned stakeholders in the health sector have prevailed on the Enugu State Government to review its tax policy as it affects free maternal and child health in the state.
Civil society organizations and the media took this stand in Nsukka at a town hall meeting organized by Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State in collaboration with the Partnership for Transforming Health Systems, PATHS-2.
The meeting, which is the first of its kind in the South-East Nigeria, was attended by representatives of the government, lawmakers, traditional rulers, civil society organizations, health workers, among others.
Speaking on behalf of the civil society organizations and the media, Deacon Jerry Nwanna observed that the tax policy was a great impediment towards government’s realization of the free maternal and child health.
He noted that the intended beneficiaries of the free health policy were vulnerable groups, who should ordinarily be exempted from paying tax.
“We are not saying that people should not pay tax because we know that government needs revenue, but what we are saying is that the issue of free maternal and child health involves a small segment of the society, which ordinarily would hardly have the means of paying tax.
“Our experiences have shown that the free health policy is not yielding the expected result because of the tax policy.
“We appreciate the government’s policy of free maternal and child health, but we are appealing that the issue of taxation as a condition should be completely removed”, he stated.
He was, however, quick to add that “government could also consider the option of allowing a joint community tax, where every community pays tax and gets a certificate that covers all these vulnerable groups, especially those in the rural areas.
“In such case, it will be the duty of traditional rulers to identify every pregnant woman in his community. This measure will check influx of people from other states”.
Nwanna equally stressed on the need for adequate security to be provided across all the public health facilities in the state.
According to him, “most of these facilities are so isolated and unsecured that the life of the woman, her child and even that of the health workers is at stake”.
Similarly, representatives of the various communities called on the government to adequately equip the health facilities.
Mrs. Maria Nwambah lamented that despite the free health policy, pregnant women were still charged certain money when they visit the facilities.
“Most times, they will say they don’t have drugs from government; the woman will be required to pay for the drugs. So, I am appealing to the government to ensure regular supply of drugs to the facilities.
“We are also worried about this issue of tax, we don’t even know what to pay and where to pay. Please, let this be free indeed”, she appealed.
Another participant, Olowu Fabian, from Ede-Enu community lamented that the one-way structure in the area serves as drug store as well as delivery room
He said: “you can imagine a situation where a woman is delivered of her baby at the full glare of every other person. It is not ideal; so we are calling on government to provide us with better structures”.
Both Osondu Attah and Chief Peter Eze stressed the need for government to provide essential amenities in the health facilities.
They lamented the lack of water and power supply to the facilities, noting that torch lights and lanterns were often used to deliver women of their babies.
Earlier in a speech at the event, the Enugu State commissioner for health, Dr. George Eze said the key health indices of Enugu State had changed for the better since 2007 through the introduction of the state health reform programmes.
He identified some of the key areas of attention to include the introduction of the state-wide free maternal and child health care programme for pregnant women and under-5 children since December, 2008; construction of new health centres and renovation of dilapidated ones since 2007 numbering over 200; training of health workers on Advanced Life Saving Skills for Nurses and Midwives in collaboration with PATHS-2, among others.
“I want to commend PATHS-2 for initiating this dialogue on health which will provide a forum, to address health concerns of the citizens of Nsukka District. It will be a good idea if it is extended to other local government areas of Enugu State”, he noted.
The representative of PATHS-2 at the event had in his key note speech disclosed that the organization had supported health issues in Enugu State in many critical areas, ranging from training of health workers to provision of drugs and other facilities.
He said no less than 30 high capacity generators have been distributed to health facilities in the state, stressing that there was need for collaboration among all Nigerians.
While calling on government to ensure the presence of qualified doctors in all the health facilities, he urged traditional rulers, lawmakers to make genuine effort in their own areas for health to thrive.
The chairman of Nsukka Council Area of Enugu State, Hon. Tony Ugwu in his welcome speech stressed the commitment of his administration towards good health for all the citizens of the council.
Ugwu, who had so far donated drugs worth over N5 million to health facilities in the area commended PATHS-2 for its good partnership with the council.
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