Paul Obi in Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday inaugurated the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Dala Orthopaedic Hospital in Kano worth N100 million built and donated by Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
The president who was represented by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, recalled that in 2007, Dantata also built and donated two other projects to the Dala Orthopaedic Hospital (General Ward and Amenity Suit) which have already improved healthcare delivery system in the hospital.
The minister said: “Today I am here on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari to commission the Ultramodern Intensive Care Unit valued at N100,000,000 built and donated by Alhaji Aminu Dantata an illustrious son of the state whom all Nigerians should be proud of”.
He commended Amasco, Minjirya Health Services and Pedmic Nigeria Limited, for their cash donations and equipment to the spinal centre in the hospital.
Osagie further stated that the Nigerian government is committed to improving the health of Nigerians and called on all healthcare professionals to set for themselves target of ensuring that Nigerian healthcare system grows to become one of the best in the world.
The minister later paid a courtesy visit to Alhaji Aminu Dantata, where he thanked him for his contributions in the health sector and prayed that God would give him the ability to do more.
While speaking, Dantata said that he always felt elated whenever he contributes to the development of humanity adding that such contributions have direct reward from Almighty Allah.
He reiterated that he would continue to support health project in Kano and other parts of the country.
Dantata however urged the federal government to provide drugs and other equipment to all Nigerian hospitals.
The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Muhammed Musa while commending Alhaji Aminu Dantata for the donation, acknowledged that the hospital provides care not only to people of Kano State but also to the neighbouring states.
Meanwhile, in an effort to solve the manpower needs in the health sector especially in the North-eastern part of Nigeria, the federal government has approved the establishment of School of Nursing and Midwifery in Nguru Local government of Yobe State.
The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre Nguru, Dr. Abubakar Musa made this known while briefing the Hon Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire who was on assessment tour of the hospital.
Musa said: “the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru in its efforts to fulfil one of its given mandates of health manpower training, got the approval of its then Board of Management, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to establish a School of Midwifery.
Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, expressed optimism that the school when fully operationalize would drastically reduce the manpower challenge, not only within the catchment areas but the entire Yobe State.
Enahire said: “I fully approve and support the efforts to develop human resources based staff, especially the School of Nursing and Midwifery to start as quickly as possible because we need those resources based officers urgently.”
He encouraged the people living within the area to fully participate in the school activities so that at end of their studies they can stay and support health sector in their communities.
The minister further called on the staff of the hospital to put in their best at least to work for 40 hours per week.
“While we are struggling to ensure that FMC Nguru gets its fair share from the federal government, you should also work with dedication and humility for at least the number of hours expected of you per day.” He added.
Enahire explained that with the federal government policy of revitalizing 10,000 Primary Healthcare Centres across the country ,and with launched of saving one million lives programme which federal government disbursed $1,500,000 to all states to improve primary health care centres ,the pressure on the Federal Medical Centre would be reduced.
