Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) executive secretary Sunday Echono has stressed the urgent need for comprehensive health sector reforms and innovations in Nigeria, citing the country’s historical health advancements and current challenges.
Echono made the call yesterday in Abuja during the inaugural African Health and Medical Service Awards Nigeria (AHMSAN), organized by Africanstride International Magazine.
He emphasised the need for recognising outstanding contributions within Nigeria’s health and medical sector and expressed appreciation to the publishers of Africanstride International Magazine for organising the awards.
He underscored the significance of recognising health workers who continue to serve the nation despite challenging conditions and the allure of opportunities abroad.
“Our health workers deserve recognition, acclaim, and appreciation. For those who resist the temptation to search for greener pasture abroad and are toiling day and night to keep us healthy, events like these are crucial for acknowledging their sacrifices,” he said.
Echono reflected on Nigeria’s once-thriving health sector, recalling a time when Saudi princes sought medical care at Nigeria’s University College Ibadan before independence.
He contrasted this with the current state where many Nigerians now travel abroad for medical treatment, highlighting the need for renewed efforts to rebuild the country’s healthcare system.
He stated that TETFUND’s commitment to support the health sector by funding the establishment of medical and health sciences faculties and specialised institutions.
He added that recent efforts to establish new medical institutions and the successes of existing ones, such as the Nigerian Medical Association’s initiative to build the University of health and medical Sciences, are steps in the right direction.
Addressing the critical doctor-patient ratio in Nigeria, Echono stressed the importance of increasing the number of medical institutions to produce more healthcare professionals.
Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences (FUSHO), Innocent Ujah, emphasised the critical role of food security in improving health outcomes.
“If we ensure access to good food, we can reduce anaemia in pregnancy, preterm deliveries and miscarriages,” he noted.
He stressed the urgent need for reforms in Nigeria’s food security and health governance to address the growing challenges of malnutrition and inadequate healthcare delivery.
Project Director for AHMSAN, Henry Adesola, emphasised that AHMSAN is dedicated to highlighting Africa’s journey towards achieving quality, sustainable, and affordable healthcare.
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