Nigeria to Overhaul Rehabilitation System Following WHO Assessment

The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with health stakeholders, has initiated a comprehensive overhaul of the country's rehabilitation system after a World Health Organization (WHO) assessment revealed severe systemic weaknesses. The decision followed a National Stakeholders’ Validation Meeting in Abuja, which evaluated the sector under the WHO Rehabilitation 2030 initiative. The assessment found that none of the 50 evaluated components performed at an optimal level, with 32 operating at very low levels. Key issues identified include weak governance, inadequate financing, workforce shortages, poor data integration, and limited accessibility, particularly at the primary healthcare level. Stakeholders emphasized that rehabilitation is critical for universal health coverage but suffers from a lack of dedicated budget and national policy inclusion. Consequently, participants resolved to produce a comprehensive report and submit a revised draft to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare by June 9. Future steps include developing a National Rehabilitation Policy, establishing a costed resource mobilization framework, and implementing state-level reforms. The meeting highlighted the urgent need for broad system-wide interventions to address the concentration of services in tertiary facilities and improve community-based care availability.