Defence Ministry Holds Strategic Project Review of Nigerian Military Health Services

The Ministry of Defence has begun the reform process with a workshop on the Needs Assessment and Strategic Project Review of the Military Health Services in Nigeria.

The development came following the approval of the reforms in the Nigerian Armed Forces by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The workshop is part of the Reform of the Military Health Services with Vista Healthcare as a consultant medical Services.

The Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Defence, Retired Major General Bashir Magashi said “the health services of the Armed Forces is an important component of the proposed reforms in the Nigerian Military.”

According to him, these reforms aim to carry out a comprehensive review of the Armed Forces Health care services with a view to repositioning, upgrading the facilities, and motivating the personnel to better serve the nation.

He said; “An important component of the reform is the Armed Forces Healthcare delivery system. Under my leadership, the Ministry has resolved to review the Armed Forces Health System, identify gaps and reposition it to better serve Military personnel, veterans, and their families as well as the general public.”

“The essence is to review the state of our facilities, a dearth in medical personnel, inadequate equipment, and parallel health care delivery services to upgrade our facilities, recruit more personnel, and boost the morale of our Armed Forces and civilians alike. My vision is to put in place mechanisms that will lead to the establishment of a World Class Military Hospital akin to Walter Reed Military Hospital in the USA that will successfully manage officers and soldiers injured in battle as well as provide serving personnel, veterans, and their families, and indeed Nigerians quality healthcare services,” the Minister explained.

While giving a comprehensive plan on the Armed Forces health care review, the
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Kana said the essence of the workshop was to focus on how to address the gaps in the medical services for the Armed forces to make them more effective.

He said the standard of health care services of personnel needs upgrading irrespective of the Military service arms.

Can’t say; “We must review the armed forces to be like the American Armed forces and improve medical services delivery to personnel and their dependents, as well as deploy discipline in the command structure of the armed forces.”

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor who was full of appreciation for the initiative revealed that the Defence Headquarters has secured 100hectaress of land from the Federal Capital Territory Authority for the proposed health care facility and the benefits would not just be for the Armed Forces but also the civilians.

The representative of the managing partner on the Needs Assessment and Strategic Project Review and Reform of the Military Health Services in Nigeria, Dr. Folabi Ogunlesi said the consultant services were founded 15 years ago.

Ogunlesi who works with Vesta Healthcare added that it is an indigenous company ready to help the Armed Forces make the project a reality.

Mercy Chukwudiebere