Nigeria to reform rehabilitation services after WHO assessment
The Federal Government and health stakeholders are set to overhaul Nigeria’s rehabilitation system following a major assessment by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The evaluation revealed significant weaknesses in rehabilitation services across the country. Representatives from government, academia, professional bodies, and development partners met in Abuja to discuss reforms. A communiqué outlined urgent steps needed to address gaps in governance, financing, workforce, and accessibility.
Highlights
- The national assessment found that none of the 50 evaluated components of Nigeria’s rehabilitation system was performing optimally, with only two showing strong performance.
- Stakeholders identified weak governance, inadequate funding, poor data systems, workforce shortages, and uneven infrastructure as major challenges.
- Rehabilitation services are mostly concentrated in tertiary facilities, with limited community-based options and low awareness among healthcare workers and the public.
- The absence of a dedicated rehabilitation budget and limited insurance coverage forces many Nigerians to pay out-of-pocket for services.
- Stakeholders agreed to produce a comprehensive report within two weeks and submit a revised draft to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board by June 9.
