Federal Government to Build Resident Institutions in Health Sector – Minister 

Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, says the Federal Government has laid a strong foundation upon which the health sector could continue to build resilient institutions, as part of measures to cushion the effects of brain drain in the country’s health sector.

He revealed that part of the efforts included one-on-one replacement of medical personnel who had sought greener pastures and knowledge and skills reparation, with the intention of improving the existing structure in the sector.

Ehanire stated this, in Ibadan, on Monday while inaugurating seven projects at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, noting that the government was committed to revitalising the primary, secondary and tertiary health sectors across the country.

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He said: “We all recall how much our Nation’s health system was streesed following the Covid-19 pandemic and the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to do all possible to guide our nation out of the threats. He approved one molecular laboratory, an oxygen plant, an ICU, and an Isolation Center for all Federal Tertiary hospitals in every state in Nigeria.”

The Minister affirmed that the establishment of the purpose-built facilities would improve the capacity to cope with the needs of the patient population in any public health emergency, as well as in routine service delivery, revealing that a programme aimed at adding to the national cancer treatment inventory to improve access to treatment, learning and research, was ongoing.

“I am sure UCH, sooner than later, will also benefit from such initiative, since the goal is continuous investment in our medical centers, to upgrade capacity and quality of care to globally competitive standards that match or surpass those of foreign countries which our citizens currently patronise,” Ehanire asserted.

The Minsiter commended the Board and Management of UCH on the initiatives and milestone achievements, charging them to recapture the past reputation of the hospital, not just as the premier teaching hospital in Nigeria, but also as a leading destination for cutting-edge healthcare in Africa.

Earlier, Ehanire had presented a letter of reappointment to Prof. Abiodun Otegbayo, as Chief Medical Director of UCH for another four-year term in office.

In his remarks, Prof. Otegbayo said the projects symbolised the important steps the president had taken over the years in terms of repositioning healthcare service delivery to Nigerians.

The projects include: One in-patient Mammogram, One out-patient Mammogram, One 64 Slice CT Machine, a state of the art and fully equipped Molecular Laboratory, Nurse Tutors’ Practical Demonstration Building, Pressure Swing Absorption Oxygen Plant and Two Autoclave Sterilisers.