National Health Policy and the Management of COVID-19 in Nigeria

Abstract

The paper is an examination of the implementation of the National Health Policy (NHP) of 2016
and the Management of COVID-19 in Nigeria. The policy was initiated to address the various
challenges facing the health sector in Nigeria with an aim to promoting the health of Nigerians
and enhancing their socio-economic development. The researchers critiqued five out of the ten
(10) policy thrusts of the NHP and their impact on the management of COVID-19. Secondary
source of data was used to gather information for the study. This includes; journals, books and
other relevant online materials. It was argued that the wellbeing of the citizens is a sine qua non
for socioeconomic development, hence Nigeria government in the face of COVID-19, must take
necessary actions to protect and safeguard the public in order to build a vibrant, inclusive,
equitable, economically productive and healthy society. The researchers discovered that the
implementation of the NHP 2016 has not transformed the Nigerian health sector as evidenced by
the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers, therefore, concluded that there is
poor implementation of the National Health policy of 2016. The researchers recommended
among other things that government should be more transparent, accountable and forthright in its
efforts toward the development of the health sector in Nigeria.