In 1960, the United States formed diplomatic ties with Nigeria
These relations were developed after Nigeria achieved independence from Britain. Nigeria has the largest economy and the most people in Africa. Since 2010, the United States Nigeria Binational Commission has been in place. Via monthly sessions, the forum hosted high-level conversations on important areas of shared concern. The United States wishes to assist Nigerians in enhancing their economic prosperity, security, health, and well-being. Our assistance intended to strengthen local and national structures, as well as to develop institutional capability in the provision of health and educational services. The policy that is involved option that is there and given by the United States government to Nigeria is Health workforce policy the other systems are the financing and delivery of personal health care. (Hendrickson Roshen 7)
Major issues facing the country
Apart from the health issue, Nigeria is facing other health issues that have to be addressed. These problems are corruption, diseases like the HIV/AIDS, malaria, yellow fever and bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, the other issue is the soil degradation rate, and lastly conflicts due to either religious, political or ethnic reason. (Lawal Tolu and Abe Oluwatoyin 240)
Corruption
Corruption is the misappropriate use of the public funds and is very rampant in Nigeria together with weak governance. Nigeria is ranked the most corrupt country in Africa have high unemployment rate. There are many graduates in Nigeria, but most of them end up in the streets in despair and anger. 45-60% of Nigerians live below the poverty line.
Soil degradation
Soil degradation is another issue that is facing Nigeria today. Industrial and agricultural runoffs often cause this. The oil spillage poisons water bodies and food sources especially in the Niger Delta areas are the most prominent cause.
Conflict
Another major issue is the conflict. The crazy Militant Boko Haram continues to destroy innocent lives and another people's property in Nigeria. Religious tension between the Christians and the Muslim continues to raise pressure and makes people live in fear of security. Political and ethnic insurgent movement is also fueling clashes tension in Nigeria.
Diseases
Diseases are also a significant issue facing the country having a World Health Organization showing that around 3.5 million people were living with the illness in 2014. (Peterson, Susan 62) Nigeria is also considered a malaria killing zone in Africa. Another health problem goes to the child below five years since most of them suffer from malnutrition. (Shuaib Faisal 39)
Reasons for initiating changes in the policy
The policy focuses on better practice management and administrative needs. The changes in the policies were because they wanted to reduce the problems that encountered by those in the health department. The health workforce has faced poor remuneration and also a reduced welfare. The health workers have embarked on industrial action due to the poor working conditions and the delayed salaries. It is well known that Africans have a low income and hence it is difficult for them to help themselves in significant disease crisis. Political economies have helped the diseases to thrive in Africa. There are numerous conflicts, education barrier and high fertility rates are other reasons that were identified to show that Nigeria needed assistance from the health faculty.
Option to be considered
Many options are discussed in the policies. Healthcare touches everybody living in the place. Healthcare industry globally is visible to be extremely slow in the adoption of policies. There are three main things to consider when in both making and changing policies. The first consideration is the access to the Medicare. Each person should receive medical treatment at any given time and wherever the person is living. Before a policy is made or changed, they should make the above reason happen since it is the right that each person gets treatment. The second consideration is the quality. The policy should aim at giving the maximum of what they are capable of, they should provide the best quality, and hence the system should enable them to do so. They should offer a world-class care and establish integrated information repositories. The third option to be considered is value is another consideration that has to be taken to effect by providing an effective and efficient healthcare delivery. These three, regarded as the leading challenges that the healthcare organizations face today. The last option to be considered is the availability of the resources. (Kassalow Jordan 85)
Pros and cons of each potential reforms
For one to provide enough workforce in the health sector, many costs are involved. In Nigeria diseases like Ebola have cost them lots of cash if not for the allies like the U.S participating and adding enough workforce then it would be difficult for the Nigerians alone to stop the spread of the disease. There are a lot of benefits that are involved in the reform of the U.S adding more medical personnel's since it helped in the saving of lives and the cub of the killer diseases.
U.S helped in the financing the diseases problem in Nigeria though expensive more benefits are brought about by the finances. When a health problem is eliminated, then everybody in the country feels at peace.
The medical research policy is one of the primary strategies that are there. The research helps in the stopping of a particular disease or the gaining much knowledge in the condition as much as possible. The cost of this is expensive since at times there are zero results.
The best option in moving forward
The best option in the moving ahead is that setting up enough funds for the health department. Enough resources will help in almost everything. The money can be used in the research of the disease they can also be used in the employment of new staff in the faculty. The funds can be further used in the addition of the new medical facilities.
Summary and conclusion
Nigeria is a country that is facing many challenges most of those not health related. The United States being a close ally and a nation they trade with has initiated policies to help the state remain on its feet. The United States is assisting through many things like the funding projects that help reduce the problems the country is facing. There are many advantages and disadvantages encountered when U.S is trying to help like the shortage of human resources and the cash shooting up than the expected another problem is when a particular disease comes up and has to be dealt with immediately an example is the Ebola disease.
The U.S. policy on the spread of diseases has helped a lot in the reduction of disease attack in the country. It has also helped in stopping the killer disease of Ebola which the rate of spread and kill is very high.
Work Cited
Shuaib, Faisal, et al. “Ebola virus disease outbreak—Nigeria, July–September 2014.” MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 63.39 (2014): 867-72.
Hendrickson, Roshen. “Introduction.” Promoting US Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa. Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2014. 1-10.
Peterson, Susan. “Epidemic disease and national security.” Security Studies 12.2 (2002): 43-81.
Kassalow, Jordan S. Why health is important to US foreign policy. New York: Milbank Memorial Fund, 2001.
Lawal, Tolu, and Abe Oluwatoyin. “National development in Nigeria: Issues, challenges and prospects.” Journal of Public Administration and Policy Research 3.9 (2011): 237-241.
Ploch, Lauren. Nigeria: Current issues and US policy. Congressional Research Service, 2012.
