Nigeria’s Health Facility Registry has been inaugurated by the federal government with the aim of facilitating free flow of health information to the general public.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, health minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole described the Health Facility Registry as an electronic information system that will allow public access to up-to-date information on health facilities as contained in the Master Facility List.
Adewole explained that Master Facility list is a complete listing of all the health facilities in the country with information on their locations, unique identifiers and the kind of services they provide.
“The Health Facility Registry will permit each State of the Federation and the FCT to carryout constant management of the list of health facilities within its jurisdiction”.
The Minister said that the Health Facility Registry would also provide opportunity for stakeholders that require comprehensive list of health facilities for health management information system, diseases surveillance and supply chain management.
He stated that the Health Facility Registry would provide credible data that would ensure pooling of resources to reduce duplication of efforts and increase efficiency in the health system in the country.
Prof. Adewole assured that Ministry of Health would continue to provide capacity building programs to ensure effective and efficient implementation of Health Facility Registry across the country.
“I want to assure that we in the Ministry will continue to develop and enhance capacities to guarantee effective implementation and sustainability of the system” he explained.
Earlier, USAID representative at the occasion, Mr. Duke Lawrence Ogbokor, said that Health Facility Registry would improve the quality of data in the health system.
He maintained that USAID was interested in reducing maternal and infant mortality rate in Nigeria and was partnering with the Federal and State governments to increase access to quality health care services in Nigeria.
He stressed “USAID also focus on Family Planning, Immunization, Polio Eradication, Malaria prevention and control, maternal and child health, HIV and AIDS among others”.
Mr. Ogbokor further called on State Governors to commit resources to Primary Health Centers in their respective states.