September 19, 2024

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Health

Tinubu transforming Nigeria through health – Pate

By Olaide Ayinde

Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, says President Bola Tinubu is transforming the country’s health sector for better quality service delivery.

Pate said this in Bauchi on Friday, during the groundbreaking of 10 MedServe’s oncology and diagnostic centres at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi.

According to him, the president is investing so much in the health sector to ensure every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare service delivery across the country.

“Mr President is very clear, he wants to transform this country. He wants to change the direction of this country, and we are fortunate that he picked health as one of those areas.

“In just one year, he has done what has not been done in the history of this country in the health sector.

“He has launched many initiatives and building on what Medserve has done. We are seeing 10 major infrastructural projects with the groundbreaking that is happening.

“In 12 months, we will start opening them all across Nigeria.

“There are 6,000 centres that Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority(NSIA), is doing, and I think the money is available and those too would be completed within 12 to 18 months, they will be opened,” he said.

He also said that Tinubu had undertaken the retraining of 120,000 frontline health workers, adding that 10,000 of them had been retrained across the country including in Bauchi.

Also speaking, Dr Tolulope Adewole, Managing Director, Medserve, said between 2020 and now, Medserve had attended to 131,000 patients in NSIA Kano diagnostic centre with evidential testimonies.

He explained that close to 700,000 individual tests had been done in Medserve’s diagnostic centres, adding that centres would be created in Umuahia and Abia,

“As we hope to inaugurate this one in Bauchi, in another 12 to 15 months, this project’s doors would never be closed and that the patients of Bauchi would join that number, and they would have a testimonial of what is going to happen.

“We have just three things that we do, equity, access and quality, and our goal is to demonstrate equitable access.

“All lives are equal and the same quality service you get in other places would be getting here,” he said.

In his address, Bauchi Governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed, said that his administration would soon expend N25 billion on the state Specialist Hospital to complement the medical services at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital.

He appreciated Tinubu for deepening inclusion and thank him for capturing Bauchi in his Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We want poverty and anger to go and this kind of initiative is also reducing anger.

“On behalf of myself and indeed all the governors in the various states of the federation where this programme is coming, we are happy with the Federal Government,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Buhari Bolaji

Health

Pate calls on African nations to intensify immunisation coverage for hepatitis

 

By Folasade Akpan

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has called on African nations to intensify efforts to increase immunisation coverage for chronic hepatitis.

 

Pate made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the African Hepatitis Summit with the theme: ‘Putting Africa on Track towards Viral Hepatitis Elimination’.

 

Pate, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said that hepatitis continues to pose a huge public health threat, unleashing devastating consequences among patients grappling with chronic infections worldwide.

 

“However, it’s noteworthy that hepatitis is preventable and curable, by putting in place a simplified approach deliverable at the primary level of care.

 

“This approach fortifies our ongoing and sustained commitment towards achieving universal health coverage by 2023,” he said.

 

Giving statistics about the disease, he said that currently, Africa battles with a substantial hepatitis burden, with 82 million people living with Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) and nine million people living with Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) infections.

 

He added that the figures were further exacerbated by the fact that only 0.1 per cent of two per cent diagnosed with CHB and zero per cent of five per cent diagnosed with CHC received treatment in the year 2020.

 

“These figures sharply contrast with the notable progress made globally, with 10 per cent of 296 million people diagnosed with CHB and 25 per cent of 58 million diagnosed with CHC receiving treatment.

 

“In spite of a 90 per cent risk of children acquiring CHB from mother-to-child transmission, only 14 out of 47 African countries have introduced routine HepB-BD vaccination.

 

“Also, merely 17 per cent of newborns in Africa have received a timely HepB-BD vaccination in spite of it being recognised as a cost-effective tool to prevent new infections,” he said.

 

He added that with the availability of affordable Directly Acting Anti-viral (DAAs) drugs for curing HCV and Tenofovir for treating HBV, African countries are strategically poised to overcome barriers to treatments.

 

He noted that the high cost of treatment which was often paid out-of-pocket continues to create a barrier to assess.

 

“It is high time African nations collaborate to advocate for local production. We must also explore that health insurance are optimised.

 

“As we advocate for augmented financial commitment and support for hepatitis control response, it is imperative for African countries to align with World Health Organisation’s (WHO) new global health sector strategy, which has delineated new actions and targets to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030.

 

“This strategy aims to curtail new infections and deaths to half a million each, globally, a reduction of 90 per cent and 65 per cent respectively,” he said.

 

On the homefront, Pate said that Nigeria is commitment to eliminating the disease.

 

According to him, the obligation is manifested through various interventions and commitments such as continuous strengthening of primary healthcare system, public awareness campaigns and, inclusion of hepatitis in the minimum package for national health insurance among others.

 

“We will persist in working with the WHO and other stakeholders as well as mobilise and sustain domestic funding until Nigeria is hepatitis-free,” he said.

 

The President, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), Dr Danjuma Adda, said that he was not proud of the slow progress of African nations towards eliminating viral hepatitis as more could be done.

 

According to him, every year many are pushed into extreme poverty by the cost of paying for care out of pocket.

 

He added that Africa has the solution to effectively treat and prevent Hepatitis B and to cure Hepatitis C.

 

“We must stop babies from getting infected with hepatitis B when there are safe vaccines, we must prevent this cruelness and we must end stigma and discrimination against people with hepatitis.

 

“We must look inwards to generate domestic funding and stop relying on external funding to solve our local problems because we have the resources to eliminate hepatitis across Africa.

 

“We hope this event will stir in our hearts the strong motivation towards taking daring and ambitious goals and setting targets to accelerate hepatitis elimination across Africa,’ he said.

 

Presenting a paper about ‘The Cost of Hepatitis Elimination in Africa- Investment Case’, Dr Homie Razavi, Managing Director, Center for Disease Analysis (CDA) Foundation, said that Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) screening and treatment would peak at 2.1 to 1.7 billion dollars per year in 2035.

 

He also said that that Hepatitis C Vaccine (HCV) screening and treatment would peak at 218 million dollars per year and would drop after elimination is achieved.

 

According to him, elimination of viral hepatitis in Africa is feasible and highly cost effective and cost saving.

 

“There are currently no white knights out there who are willing to provide screening, lab costs and treatment (all) free of charge.

 

“A hybrid strategy where countries cover some costs and patients cover other costs has the highest likelihood of success.

 

“However, this requires active engagement by countries to lower the price to patients to make lab tests and treatment affordable,” he added.

 

The highlight of the event was the award presented to the Nasarawa State Governor, Mr Abdullahi Sule, the governments of Egypt and Rwanda for their strides towards eliminating the disease in their respective domains. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Health

FG to improve adolescent, young adults’ wellbeing- Pate

 

By Folasade Akpan

The Federal Government says it is committed to improving the wellbeing of adolescents and young adults in the country.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said this on Thursday in Abuja, at the 2023 Global Forum for Adolescents 2023 with the theme: “With and for Adolescents, Our Future is Now.”

Pate said that the Federal Government recognises that the wellbeing of adolescents is critical to achieving sustainable development.

He also said that it acknowledges the importance of adopting a whole-government approach to addressing the multiple and intersecting factors that impact adolescents in the country.

“We commit to improving adolescents’ wellbeing and accelerate the achievement of related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) priority for adolescents and young people as a smart investment in the future of our societies, economies and the planet.

“We also commit to prioritising adolescent wellbeing and raising SDG priorities in our national development plans and strategies to ensure disaggregated data collection so that we better understand the challenges and opportunities for ensuring adolescents’ wellbeing.

“Also, to integrate adolescent specific aggregators into the monitoring and reporting frameworks by meaningfully engaging the adolescents themselves and young people in the design, implementation and monitoring of policies and programmes that affect their wellbeing,” he said.

The minister added that the government is also committed to increasing its financial commitments and develop programmes and service delivery actions that would improve adolescents’ wellbeing.

“The Federal Government is totally committed to all efforts directed at the realisation of adolescents and young people’s potentials in nation building and for them to become healthy adolescents now, healthy in the future and flourishing healthy generations in the future.

“By making these commitments, we agree to register our commitments on the SDG Summit Acceleration and Accountability Platform.

“We commit to systematically report on the implementation of those commitments through existing follow up and review processes including the Voluntary National Review Process,” he added.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Walter Mulombo, called for the importance of government adopting an approach to work together in a coordinated and collaborative manner to address the multiple and intersecting factors that impact adolescents.

“Strengthening our collective efforts to improve adolescent well-being will help accelerate the achievement of related SDG priorities – for investing in adolescents and young people is a smart investment in the future of our societies, economies, and the planet.

“Nigeria frameworks will benefit more by meaningfully engaging adolescents and young people in the design, implementation, and monitoring of policies and programs that affect their well-being,” he said.

He added that WHO would continue to support Federal Government’s efforts to make adolescent well-being a national priority and for hosting the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health to coordinate the Global Forum.

In a message, the representative of the United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA), Kareema Bungudu, said that adolescents and young people under 25 years make up about 63 per cent of the nation’s population and are a key focus group for UNFPA mandate areas.

“This cuts across our three transformative goals of zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning and zero tolerance for gender-based violence and other harmful practices.

“I keenly anticipate the commitment pledges from the government and our esteemed partners today.

“This isn’t mere rhetoric but a heartfelt promise to our Nigerian youths, underlining our collective commitment to their aspirations.’

One of the adolescents, Miss Iretomiwa Pitan, said that the education sector could be made better by ensuring free education for all.

According to her, not all parents or guardians can afford to pay fees or purchase educational materials for their children and wards.

“That is why some youths go into cultism, drug abuse, prostitution and the government can provide free education for youths who are not able to pay their fees and give scholarships to gifted youths who are smart.

“As young persons in Nigeria our voices should be heard because our voices matter and not only that of adults because we are the future of Nigeria and we should be heard to improve our country.”

Another, Miss Nicole Austin, at the event said that some of them miss it in life because they do not have the right resources or information to propel them to reach their goals.

“I wish to be a doctor in the future and even though the situation in the country is a bit harsh I believe that I can achieve it through perseverance and diligence,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Global Forum for Adolescents, the world’s largest-ever virtual gathering for adolescent health and well-being will hold from Oct. 11 to Oct. 12.

It is a key milestone within the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign and is co-produced and co-owned by young people and multiple stakeholders, including United Nations agencies. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Health

4-point agenda in health sector will address manpower challenge – Minister

 

 

 

By Oluwakemi Oladipo

 

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Pate,  on Thursday said the ministry’s four-point agenda would address the sector’s manpower challenge and strengthen the nation’s healthcare system.

 

Pate stated this at the 41st Annual convocation of National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Ijanikin, Lagos.

 

 

 

 

He was represented by Prof. Jesse Otegbayo, the Chief Medical Director of the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

 

He said that the four-point agenda would also provide effective health and human services.

 

The minister said that the programme would improve the quality of governance and management of hospitals by assessing the leadership qualities of teaching hospitals in strengthening the regulatory capacity of the institutions.

 

“Improve population health outcomes and medical care, so that diseases such as diphtheria, measles, vaccine preventable diseases, maternal and child health will be prioritised.

 

“Unlock the healthcare value chain with a focus on medical industrialization, so that Nigeria can be self sustaining in producing medical supplies.

 

“Invest more resources to ensure that the Nation’s public healthcare capabilities are strengthened to be able to respond to outbreaks early, before they get out of hand,” he said.

 

Pate said that the blueprint would chart a way forward to achieve a healthy population that would help harness the potential of the young and aged populations.

 

“The students and scholars who will be receiving degrees, awards and prizes today, are Nigeria’s investment capital, for building a better future.

 

“You have been equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to spearhead improvement in the Nigeria’s health system.

 

“In order words, you are a symbol of Nigeria’s aspirations to stand shoulder to shoulder with the giants globally,” he said.

 

Pate said that the commitment of the Federal Government is to reposition Nigeria’s healthcare system towards improving the health of all Nigerians.

 

Prof. Akin Osibogun, the President, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, called for a synergy among stakeholders to help address the medical manpower needs of the country.

 

Osibogun said that the collaboration would embrace the challenges ahead with courage and determination, adding that it would create a healthier nation and a brighter tomorrow.

 

“We recognise 413 medical and dental specialists from 15 faculties, who have fulfilled all training requirements for the award of the fellowship by examination, who are convocating today.

 

“Also 92 graduates of our postgraduate MD programme and six postgraduate diplomat Ed in Anaesthesia and 73 diplomat in family medicine.

 

“I implore you all to continue to represent the college well in which ever position you find yourself and be worthy ambassadors of the college, both in character and in learning,” he said.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some medical professionals were given distinguished Fellowship Awards such as: Prof. Adewale Akinsola, a Professor of Medicine and Consultant Nephrologist and foundation provost of Bowen University College of Health Sciences, Osogbo.

 

Dr Benedictus Ajayi, a former President, Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria (OSN) and Chief Medical Director, Elena Eye Institute, Ibadan.

 

Dr Akintola Ladeinde, a Professor and Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Lagos University Teaching Hospital.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Health

FG advocates adoption of improved surgical procedures in Nigeria

By Abiodun Azi

The Federal Government of Nigeria is advocating improved surgical procedures as part of efforts to improve delivery of quality healthcare services in the country.

Prof. Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, made the call at the annual meeting of the National Institute of Health Research Global Surgery Unit (NIHR GSU), on Tuesday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NIHR GSU meeting is an international event that provides platform for leading experts , researchers and practitioners in the field of global surgery to discuss and chart ways for improved surgical care.

Pate, represented by Dr Jimoh Salaudeen, Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), said improved surgical procedures would reposition the health sector of Nigeria to be efficient in its services.

He said that the institute, through its various contributions in the medical sector particularly as the platform in facilitating the largest collaboration in surgery across the globe, is critical to helping Nigeria in attaining the feat.

According to the minister, Nigeria as a member of the global hub funded by the UK NIHR, has recorded giant strides in line with its objectives and has performed creditably as led by Prof. Ademuyiwa Adesoji.

He assured the institute of government’s support in its discharge of duties saying that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is prioritising research as  critical to facilitating development in the healthcare industry.

Speaking earlier, Prof Adesoji Ademuyiwa, a Director of the NIHR GSU, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, described the body as UK’s largest funder of healthcare which has been supporting Nigeria’s researchers in their studies.

He said that the institute had been involved in cutting edge researches which had resulted to feats being adopted for various interventions in surgery.

Ademuyiwa expressed hope that with the required support from government and other key stakeholders, more improvements in the surgical sector would be recorded.

Also speaking, Prof. Dion Morton a member of NIHR and a professor of Colorectal Surgery, University of Birmingham, described the meeting as a crucial platform to hold deliberations on global leading researches in Nigeria and its other members.

He said that seeking improved practices and transforming the lives of surgical patients were issues that were being addressed through its various discussions.

According to Morton, the institute has conducted studies involving cohorts of no fewer than 200,000 patients from three continents in 100 countries.

He added that the studies also included 25 ,000 patients in intervention trials aimed at improving outcomes for surgical care.

Also, Dr Salihu Bakari, Director, Research and Development, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund), said that the agency was committed to funding researches and collaborations in tertiary institutions to facilitate the needed impact.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Martha Agas/Vivian Ihechu

Health

Pate lauds U.S., partners over $900m investment in malaria, others

By Folasade Akpan

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate has commended the United States Government and other partners for investing $900 million dollars in Nigeria’s malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis programmes.

He made the commendation on Monday in Abuja when he received Dr John Nkengasong, the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and Special Representative for Global Health Diplomacy, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Also among the delegation was Mr Peter Sands, Executive Director, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Dr David Walton, U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator for the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).

According to Pate, the U.S. government support which is about $900 million dollars over the years is already a significant amount of support.

The minister said: “We appreciate the generosity of the American people and American government and other governments that contribute to the global fund because the global fund comprises seven countries, not only the United States government”.

Pate said the visit symbolised the significance that the delegation places on the health and well-being of Nigerians and on Nigeria’s positioning in the global effort to improve people’s health.

He, however, said that financing and technical capability were not the only challenges the nation’s health sector faced though financing was very important.

Pate said that overall governance was very important and that the ministry would support the vision of President Bola Tinubu to ensure the health sector was better covered.

He added: “Which means that to govern health better, we have to look at the inter-governmental aspects as well as what we do as a Federal Government.

“We have to do it with our development partners like yourself and others who are going to come after to serve Nigerians, to improve their health and wellbeing and have good data to tell the story of where we are going.

“To hold ourselves accountable and also hold you accountable, even as the source countries also called institutions accountable. That’s the pillar of governance.”

He said that to strengthen the platform for delivery of health services, the nation had to retrain and update standards of practice for its frontline health workers.

Speaking, Walton commended Nigeria on the progress that had been made in healthcare deliverables, especially ensuring that Nigerians were protected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the global fund was proud to be a partner with Nigeria and the fund has a lot at stake.

Walton said: “Nigeria is the country that receives more global fund investments than any other country in the world so your success is our success.

“We are completely united with you in the objective of saving lives, improving the health systems, improving health and wellbeing for people all across this country.

“This visit is a very deliberate effort to ensure we are coordinated in supporting you and particularly at this really important moment where we have a new government, new president, new leadership in Ministry of Health.

“We want to be aligned in the way we put our resources and capabilities behind the government. We are delighted to engage in these discussions, but we should see this as just a first step of ongoing dialogue.

“However, it is also about action because ultimately it’s the actions that counts and that is what will save people’s lives and improve people’s health.”

Also at the event, the 2022 Nigeria Malaria Report was inaugurated.

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, acknowledged the commitment of the Global Fund and the US Government through PEPFAR and the President’s Malaria Initiative, which continues to support disease elimination efforts in the African region.

The director said that as one of the region’s largest and most economically important countries, Nigeria had a major role in tackling disease prevention and control among its population.

She, however, said that Nigeria had made great strides in improving the health of its population and that the country made progress on HIV between 2015 and 2021, meeting two of the 95-95-95 goals.

According to her, tuberculosis intervention coverage is improving, with increasing case detection over the same period.

Moeti said: “The African Region carries a high proportion of the global malaria burden, accounting for about 95 per cent of all malaria cases and 96 per cent of all malaria deaths in 2021.

“While Nigeria accounts for around 27 per cent of the global burden of malaria cases, the country has seen major progress.

“Malaria incidence has fallen by 26 per cent since 2000, from 413 per 1000 to 302 per 1000 in 2021. Malaria deaths also fell by 55 per cent, from 2.1 per 1000 population to 0.9 per 1000 population.”

Moeti said that the drivers of the continuing disease burden include the size of Nigeria’s population, making scaling up intervention challenging, suboptimal surveillance systems, which pick up less than 40 per cent of the country’s malaria data.

Similarly, inadequate funding to ensure universal interventions across all states and health seeking behaviour, where people use the private sector, with limited regulation, preferentially.

She added: “Further, learning from COVID-19, we know that continuity of provision of essential health services is critical to interventions in malaria and other diseases.

“This is particularly in populations affected by humanitarian emergencies and changing environmental factors, such as climate change, and farming and mining practices that may increase transmission.

“Addressing the prevention, elimination, and control of malaria and the burden from other diseases requires critical data and information gathering for evidence-based investment and decision-making.”

According to her, the report on malaria in Nigeria 2022 is an excellent model from which to use data to prioritise health interventions.

Moeti added that using data, Nigeria could prioritise and target interventions, optimise allocation of resources and facilitate the monitoring of performance at federal and state levels.

She also said that the report was a result of the collaboration between the Nigeria Malaria Elimination Programme, the WHO Regional Office for Africa, and the Global Malaria Programme.

It provides critical information on the status of malaria in each of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, making it unique in providing data at the state level.

According to her, this is to guide a truly subnational response to malaria, providing an overview of the malaria situation across all states.

Also focusing on population demographics, malaria interventions, climate and disease burden.

“Going forward, the regional office must support the generation of the data and evidence required to develop similar reports on other diseases and conditions.

“This will enable countries to monitor interventions at national and sub-national level, to tailor the use of funds by donors and government in the control of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

“WHO will continue to play a central and connecting role in working with government, the global fund, PEPFAR, PMI and other partners in Nigeria, at national and state level, to optimise investments to reduce the burden of malaria and other diseases in the country.” (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Angela Okisor/Bashir Rabe Mani

Health

We have high expectations of Pate as health minister – Stakeholders

By Folasade Akpan

 

Given his antecedents, some stakeholders in the health sector say they have high expectations of the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, turning around the healthcare delivery in the country.

 

In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, they said that as someone who had headed the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and served as Minister of State for Health in the past, he would deliver on his mandate as health minister.

 

Dr Joseph Enegela, the Chief Executive Officer of African Diseases Prevention and Research Development Initiative (ADRAP), said that having served in different capacities in the sector in Nigeria and in other global settings, he possesses the necessary experience the sector needs.

 

“He is not a man to banter words, so I know if he says he will end medical tourism he has thought it out and he knows exactly what to do to achieve that.

 

“I think his experiences with Primary Health Care (PHC) will also lead him to correct the issues in PHC delivery as we know that is where most Nigerians seek healthcare.

 

“I will also suggest that he should look into Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for our major hospitals.

 

“We have so many Federal Government-run hospitals that are not run efficiently and I think if we go the way of PPP they will become better, though that must run on the backdrop of health insurance,” he said.

 

Enegela said that it is the rich that seek medical tourism while the very poor cannot even seek healthcare in Nigeria because of catastrophic spendings on health.

 

He added that presently, the nation’s health insurance system has not even met the needs of the minimum percentage of Nigerians who put up for healthcare insurance.

 

He stressed that as the coordinating minister of health, it means that all other parastatals under the ministry would also have to work with him to make things better than they currently are.

 

“I believe our health care delivery will change, this is a man who gave up a global position that has far more clout in the global sphere to come and help in solving Nigeria’s healthcare issues.

 

“I will ask Nigerians to be optimistic with this man and I know we will get there,” he said.

 

Similarly, Dr Jonathan Dangana, a Lecturer at the Department of Public Health, Babcock University, said that the health sector in Nigeria had been confronted with countless strikes due to certain agreements reached with government on a number of issues.

 

He also said that poor and terrible data sources, epileptic and less-funded agencies, brain drain and progressively deteriorating infrastructure are some of the issues plaguing the sector.

 

“As a matter of urgency, it is my opinion that Pate should put forward his health agenda with clear Key Performance Indicators as this will enable Nigerians manage their expectations.

 

“Furthermore, he should ensure that community health workers have clarity of identity within the health ministry and structure who in the wake of brain drain have become defector clinical skilled manpower.

 

“A National Health Summit and with no arm of the narrative left behind; let each entity (associations and unions) come forward with their unresolved issues, challenges and proposed solutions while State governments, Non-Governmental Organisations, the academia, both students and faculty be involved in fashioning a way forward.

 

“He should revisit the existing non-sustainable funding formula of the health sector to harness how we can or should treat health as a business and not just a social responsibility,” he said.

 

Dangana said that brain drain is a global pandemic, however, some of the drained professionals are drained out for reasons which the solutions lay within the nation’s solvable range; hence the need to be sensitive to those issues and address them head on.

 

“It is noteworthy that the expectations on Pate are arguably on the same pedestal as the desire to see the currency return to her glory days,” he added.

 

On his part, Dr Jafar Momoh, a former Chief Medical Director (CMD), National Hospital, Abuja, said that if given the necessary support, Pate should do well in the sector.

 

Momoh who was also Chairman, Committee of CMDs, said that Pate knows the terrain and should focus on Universal Health Coverage and access to health care especially PHC delivery.

 

“So the expectations for him are very high because we have an experienced person coming back to the ministry and we are sure that given the necessary support from both the workers and in the budgeting aspect too; we expect him to do well,” he said.

 

NAN reports that Pate, a Professor of Public Health, served as Minister of State for Health from July 2011 to July 2013 in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

 

He was also the Chief Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency from 2008 to 2011.

 

Pate served as the Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population and Director of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents at the World Bank Group.

 

President Bola Tinubu inaugurated Pate alongside 44 others, as ministers and ministers of state on Monday in Abuja. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Health

Health minister plans to end medical tourism

By Folasade Akpan

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, assured on Monday in Abuja that he would work toward ending medical tourism out of Nigeria.

He gave the assurance at his maiden meeting with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Ms Kachollom Daju and its directors upon assumption of office.

He noted that there was a gap in health outcomes that needed to be improved upon.

“When you fly from Addis Ababa to New Delhi you see a lot of people going for medical tourism and it is not a thing we in the health sector should rest on our oars and regard as normal.

“We should do something about it and improve our health outcomes.

“It is important that we deal with the issues of governance to improve the governance of health.

“The Federal Government, states and local governments and other stakeholders will work together, including those who may be differently abled in the construct of health policy and implementation,’’ he said.

Pate said also that the economic value chain existing in the health sector should be harnessed.

He noted that the role was for the private sector, though the mission was a core public one.

The minister also said that the agenda to harness the economic value chain in the health sector has to be carefully crafted with every stakeholder being a part of the conversation.

“There is an important signal in the choice of those assigned the health portfolio, and we are very excited about that.

“I think the fact that the president also included Social Welfare in the health portfolio indicates he also considers the people as the basis; the foundational element for what his administration tries to do.

“This is because the welfare of the people is linked to their health; their health and wellbeing are interconnected right from gestation to childhood, to adulthood to elderly, and all across life cycle.

“We need to grow our economy, but we also need to attend to the people and health is an important component of that and I think that is one signal that is important.

“The president is the driver and we will follow and we will work hard to ensure that our driver takes us to the desired destination; the vision that he has of transforming this country,’’ the minister said.

Pate stressed that the main responsibility of the ministry of health was to save lives and to reduce pain.

“The president realises that Nigerians are eager to feel the impact of government so that people feel the difference that his `Renewed Hope’ agenda actually begins to touch the lives of people and we are right where it can be done,’’ he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, said he would work with Pate to ensure that Nigerians appreciated the impact of healthcare delivery.

“Our people deserve basic, comprehensive, internationally- acceptable level of healthcare and we will start thinking of healthcare as a human right issue.

“Lack of basic healthcare to any Nigerian from now on will be considered as a violation of the human right of that Nigerian.

“We are going to latch onto the staff of the ministry to ensure that we deliver,’’ Alausa said.

Earlier, Ms Daju said the statutory function of the ministry was to ensure the development and implementation of national health policies; collaborate with states and local governments and provide specialised healthcare services amongst others.

“Everything that the Ministry of Health does is guided by the National Health Act (2014).

“The Act actually spells out the functions of the ministry; emphasises its role in health policy; resource allocation and healthcare service delivery,’’ she said.

Pate, a professor of Public Health, served as Minister of State for Health from July 2011 to July 2013 in the administration of Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

He was the Chief Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency from 2008 to 2011.

Pate also served as the Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population and Director of the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents at the World Bank Group.

President Bola Tinubu inaugurated Pate and Alausa alongside 43 others, either as ministers or ministers of state, on Monday in Abuja. (NAN)

Edited by Alli Hakeem

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