By Folasade Akpan

The Federal Government and stakeholders have signed a compact to improve power supply in health institutions by at least 50 per cent within two years.

The compact was signed on Wednesday in Abuja at the closing of the first National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector.

The two-day meeting had the theme: “Powering Health through Public-Private Synergy: Energising Nigeria’s Health Sector for the Future.”

Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, who led the signing, said the compact was a commitment to action, not just dialogue.

“Our vision is that when we meet again in two years, we will have improved power in the health sector by at least 50 per cent,” he said.

Salako added that the dialogue helped to properly diagnose challenges in powering health facilities, while also creating a platform for collaboration and advocacy.

“Yes, the upfront cost of energy projects is high, whether thermal, hydro, or wind, but we must frontload investments to avoid high long-term costs,” he said.

Reading the communiqué that was drafted after the dialogue, Technical Adviser to the Minister, Dr Olakunle Daramola, said there was need for immediate steps to ease the power challenge.

The steps, he said, included establishing a national coordination framework to drive implementation and encourage states to hold similar dialogues.

He added that medium-term plans included embedding energy into national and state development strategies, strengthening rural access, and scaling public-private partnerships.

“A monitoring unit will also track implementation against clear performance indicators.”

NAN reports that the compact was signed by representatives of the Ministries of Health and Power, civil society, academia, private healthcare providers, Chief Medical Directors, and Commissioners of Health.

The compact serves as a commitment by all the undersigned to ensure that all health facilities in Nigeria, public and private, have access to sustained, reliable, affordable, and clean energy.

This is to enhance the quality, accessibility, and reliability of health services and contribute to a healthier, more productive population. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru