Health Sector Reform Agenda in an Insecure Nigerian State: Issues, Problems and Prospects

Abstract

The Nigerian state is confronted with several health challenges such as high morbidityrate arising from prevalence of communicable diseases, improper disposal of solidwastes and other forms of environmental pollution, inadequately distributed and poorlyequipped health institutions among others. In response to these challenges, governmenthas instituted health sector reform as a key strategy to ameliorate the problems. In viewof the worrisome security challenges that the country presently faces such as the BokoHaram insurgence, kidnapping, politically and economically motivated assassinationsamong others there are apprehensions on whether health reforms will ever succeed.This paper examines the link between health and insecurity with reference to howNigeria’s pursuit of health reform agenda is affected by rising state of insecurity oflives and properties in the country. It was strongly emphasized that economicempowerment through employment and microfinance initiatives, as well as aggressivepublic enlightenment will reduce tendencies towards insecurity.