President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, for driving investments in Nigeria’s healthcare value chain and pharmaceutical sector, with more than $5 billion in projects.
President Tinubu gave the commendation on Sunday while congratulating Pate on his 58th birthday, describing him as a distinguished and globally acclaimed health professional whose leadership has contributed significantly to the transformation of Nigeria’s health sector.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President highlighted progress recorded under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the revitalisation of more than 3,100 primary healthcare centres across the country.
He also noted the reorganisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, BHCPF, which has expanded access to basic healthcare services to more than 37 million Nigerians, as well as the ongoing upgrade of health facilities nationwide.
President Tinubu further acknowledged investments in healthcare infrastructure and manpower, including the establishment of three oncology centres across the geopolitical zones to help reduce outbound medical tourism.
He cited the recruitment of more than 20,000 health professionals into federal tertiary hospitals to cushion the impact of brain drain and the training of over 78,000 frontline health workers to strengthen the quality of primary healthcare delivery.
The President also highlighted the vaccination of more than 17.1 million adolescent girls against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV, as part of efforts to protect them against cervical cancer.
As Pate marks his birthday, President Tinubu joined his family, friends and associates in wishing him good health and renewed strength to continue serving the nation.
