*Directs establishment of oncology, nuclear medicine centres, critical healthcare expansion projects*AU appoints president champion for community health delivery partnership
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate upgrade of key health infrastructure and equipment in the teaching hospitals and Federal Medical Centres across all six geo-political zones in line with his administration’s vision of overhauling the health and social welfare sector for enhanced service delivery to all Nigerians.
According to a statement issued yesterday by the presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, upgrading health infrastructure and equipment was top priority of the President’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
To advance the landmark effort, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) would carry out the comprehensive upgrade of cancer-treatment infrastructure and other critical developments in six tertiary hospitals across several geopolitical zones, in addition to the full renovation and expansion of prior investments to improve broad-based access to high-quality healthcare in all six geo-political zones of the federation.
Six teaching hospitals across geo-political zones have been marked for the establishment of oncology and nuclear medicine centres per facility as part of President Tinubu’s bid to ensure that world class cancer diagnosis and care is accessible across the country.
The beneficiaries include University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, University of Nigeria (Nsukka) Teaching Hospital, Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, University of Jos Teaching Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
The statement added that 10 critical health care service expansion projects across the fields of radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology, and cardiac catheterization will be carried out in 10 hospitals across all geo-political zones.
The hospitals include North-West: Reference Hospital, Kaduna — (Radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology),
South-East: Medical Diagnostic Centre Complex, Enugu — (Radiology, clinical pathology, medical & radiation oncology),
North-West: Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto — (Diagnostic and intervention radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterization), South-West: University College Hospital, Ibadan — (Diagnostic and intervention radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterization) and South-South: University of Uyo Teaching Hospital — (Radiology and clinical pathology).
Others are North-East: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi — (Radiology and clinical pathology), South-South: Federal Medical Centre, Asaba — (Radiology and clinical pathology), North-Central: Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre Complex, Ilorin — (Radiology and clinical pathology), North-Central: Jos University Teaching Hospital — (Radiology and clinical pathology) and North-East: Federal Medical Centre, Nguru — (Radiology and clinical pathology).
The critical projects, expected to be delivered within 18 months, will improve screening and diagnostics for communicable and non-communicable diseases; reduce mortality rates and improve outcomes for non-communicable diseases; create considerable employment opportunities for clinical, administrative, and managerial personnel across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
The projects, when completed, will also build the capacity of clinical personnel in advanced procedures, diagnostics and treatment modalities, in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
Meanwhile, Tinubu has been appointed as the African Union (AU) Champion for Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership against the backdrop of his ambitious, innovative, and people-focused efforts in the sector.
Ngelale, in a separate statement, issued yesterday, said the African Union identified the President as the right champion for the noble and actionable continental effort in recognition of his commitment to train 120,000 frontline health workers nationwide within 16 months and to double the number of primary health facilities in communities across all local government areas of the federation from 8,800 to over 17,000 over the next three years;
Other reasons adduced for his appointment include his doubling of health personnel enrollment capacity from accredited nursing and midwifery institutions to accommodate the new demand created by new facilities across Nigeria, and his resolve to establish a paid volunteer youth force of social accountability officers to monitor the operational functioning and financial integrity of primary health centres.
The Commission of the African Union (Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention — Africa CDC) in a letter to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said President Tinubu was appointed on the recommendation of the Committee of Heads of State and Government of Africa CDC, under the leadership of President Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union.
In his new role, the Commission subsequently invited President Tinubu to address the Ministerial Executive Leadership Programme (MELP) under the theme, ‘Impactful Leadership in Health: a Whole Government Approach’, billed for today, Saturday, February 17, 2024, at the Africa CDC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the margins of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government. The Tinubu administration is attracting global investments in Nigeria’s health sector for the provision of cutting-edge infrastructure, equipment, and world-class manpower for improved access to quality healthcare by all Nigerians.
