Medical practitioners, Friday, commended the proposed move by the Federal Government to ban the importation of syringes and needles into the country.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, has said that his ministry is working on a policy that would mandate government-owned health institutions to procure and use syringes manufactured in Nigeria.
However, medical practitioners including CMDs of government institutions described the move as a welcome development at the 94th Regular Meetings of CMDs/MDs of government health institutions at the Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.
The CMD of the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi in Nasarawa State, Dr. Adamu Yahaya, said the ban on importation of syringes into the country would improve Nigeria’s capacity as a nation.
He described the move as a welcome development if the policy is implemented in the country. “It will be a welcome development because it is the only way we can improve our capacity as a nation and also encourage local production. It is going to be in the best interest of our nation.”
In his reaction to the proposed ban, the Head of Clinical Services Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta, Ogun state, Dr. Fedelis Ojeblenu lauded the proposed policy.
According to him, Nigeria has so many professionals in virtually all fields of human endeavours, who are well-trained. For him, it would be better if Nigeria manufactured high quality syringes and needles for local consumption.
Syringes and needles, he continued, are precision instruments; hence, the material needed must be of high quality. “Nigeria has the capacity to manufacture high quality syringes and needles for local consumption.
“And going by what I have seen so far, I think we have the capacity because we have well trained professionals in virtually all fields. All we need to do is to access funds and let the private sector come on board. We cannot import everything.”
In the views of the Chief Medical director, FMC, Azaire, Bauchi State, Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, as an executive order of the FG, local content is something that Nigerians must patronise in terms of procurement processes.
“As an executive order of the President, local content is something all Nigerians must patronise. The policy is about patronising local contents in terms of procurement processes. It is going to be a very nice idea and should be given priority,” he emphasised.
