ECOWAS parliamentarians propose laws to boost subregional healthcare, education

A Joint Committee of the Economic Community of West African States Parliament has proposed the adoption of relevant laws to transform healthcare and education within the subregion.

This is contained in a draft report produced at the end of a delocalised meeting of the parliament’s joint committee on Saturday in Conakry, the Guinean capital city.

The joint committee comprises the parliament’s standing committees on Health, Education, Science, Culture, Telecommunications, Information Technology, Industry and Private Sector.

The delocalised meeting held from September 3 to7, had as its theme: “Promoting health services and education in West Africa: the role of the ECOWAS parliament.”

According to the draft report, the parliamentarians should make laws on education and health services that are designed to align national legislation with the subregional bloc’s provisions.

The report noted the progress so far made, and the challenges confronting West Africa’s healthcare and education, and proposes incorporating the provisions of ECOWAS on these sectors into national legislation.

It also recommended that MPs should engage in aggressive advocacy to create awareness on health services and education challenges in their respective countries.

The report recommended that MPs should also contribute to behavioural change communications among the community’s population to promote healthcare and education.

This, it said, was to enable them to make significant contributions to the promotion of robust health policies across the West African subregion.

The report is subject to the consideration of parliament and the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

The draft report read in part, “The joint committee recommends that MPs should promote health education as a fundamental right for all social groups, and ensure the internalisation of international, continental, and regional instruments. The committee stresses the need for community MPs to undertake awareness-raising, education, and information campaigns for the benefit of the local population. This is particularly in rural areas where school enrolment, access to health facilities and telecommunications technologies remain low. As part of their legislative role, MPs are called upon to propose or vote on bills designed to bring national legislation in line with community provisions. They should ensure the making of laws that are favourable to the promotion of health services and education in their member states.’’.

The parliamentarians also proposed the setting up of innovative financing strategies for funding and promoting healthcare and education across West Africa.

The report, therefore, proposed that member states devote 15 per cent of their national budgets to health toward ensuring that community budgets align with the commitments made in the 2021 Abuja Declaration.

(NAN)