Nigeria to Revamp Rehabilitation System After WHO Review

The Nigerian Federal Government is set to overhaul its rehabilitation system after a World Health Organization assessment revealed severe weaknesses in rehabilitation services across the country. A meeting held in Abuja brought together stakeholders from the government, ministries, agencies, academia, and professional bodies to discuss the implementation of rehabilitation strategies aligned with the 2030 goals of the World Health Organization.

The assessment evaluated Nigeria's rehabilitation system across six key health system domains, revealing that none of the 50 assessed components performed optimally, with 32 components operating at low levels requiring urgent intervention. Major issues identified include weak governance structures, inadequate financing, poor data systems, workforce shortages, and uneven infrastructure distribution, limiting access to rehabilitation services.

The stakeholders acknowledged the need for a dedicated rehabilitation budget and emphasized the importance of integrating rehabilitation data into the national health information system. A comprehensive report is expected to be finalized and submitted to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare by June 9, with a focus on mobilizing resources and monitoring progress.