Federal Govt Restates Commitment To Infrastructure Development In Health Sector

Federal government has reinstated its commitment to the development and renewal of infrastructure in the health sector at all levels to enhance the healthcare service delivery in Nigeria.

The minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who gave the pledge yesterday at the commissioning of facilities and equipment at the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said the projects were part of the government’s commitment to improve the health sector.

He said the projects would boost the hospital’s capacity to uphold its three-way mandate to treat, train and conduct research.

“The establishment of these purpose-built facilities will improve the capacity to cope with the needs of our patient population in any public health emergency as well as in routine service delivery.

“In addition to these, a currently ongoing programme aims to add to our national cancer treatment inventory to improve access to treatment, learning and research. I am sure UCH, sooner than later will also benefit from such an 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,” he said.

While talking about the exodus of health personnel in the country, the minister described it as a global phenomenon, saying Nigeria is not the only country suffering from it.

“There is huge mobility in the health workforce; nurses, laboratory scientists, doctors of all levels are moving. It is a global phenomenon and we must not trash ourselves but that doesn’t mean that it is not a problem.

“I have heard officials in the United Kingdowm (UK) complaining in the media that they are losing their own doctors too. They are going to where it pays more, Canada, Australia and so on.’