Following the signing of the partnership agreement
between Nigeria and the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OEC) to host
the Health and Social Protection (D-8 HSP) program office in Abuja, the
Secretary-General of the D-8, Ambassador Dato’Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, says the
gesture by the Nigerian government will attract investors and help unlock the
huge market potential in Nigeria’s health sector.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the D-8 to promoting
health and social protection for citizens of D-8 member countries.
The Secretary-General stated that the programme is
designed to accelerate progress especially in the context of SDGs 1, 2, and 3
which are critical indicators of improving health and living standards?
“I am happy to inform that the health and social
protection programme has been structured in such a manner that resources will
be leveraged from within the group, the strong supporting the weak, thereby
reducing reliance on donor aid.”
He also said that the programme will support Member
States to improve access to essential health services, improve quality of care,
governance and human resource for health, prevent non-communicable diseases and
provide social protection.
“Through the HSP programme, we hope to unlock the
market potential in health amongst the Member States from which resources will be
leveraged to fund the key intervention pillars of health, nutrition and
poverty.”
In his remarks, the Nigerian Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, commended the D-8 for the laudable
initiative to promote health and support human capacity development for D-8
member countries.
He added that it will be a great benefit for Nigeria
as a member of the D-8.
The Permanent
Secretary of Nigeria’s Ministry of Health, Mr Abdul-Aziz Abdullahi Mashi said
there is no short-cut to development without investing in the people, hence,
coupling health and poverty alleviation.
He said he is hopeful that the D-8 initiative will
support the ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s health system.
The D-8 Member Countries include Bangladesh, Egypt,
Nigeria, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey.
The Organisation has a combined population of over
1.1 billion people and covers an area of 7.6 million square kilometres which
constitutes five per cent of the total world land area.
