The federal government has inaugurated an Implementation Committee for the National Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector, aiming to address the persistent electricity challenges in public healthcare facilities.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, highlighted the urgent need for sustainable power solutions in the nation’s hospitals.
He noted that his working visits to federal tertiary health institutions revealed severe electricity deficits and rising energy costs, posing significant challenges to healthcare delivery.
“As you may be aware, recent media reports have not been complimentary regarding power supply in our public hospitals. While the government has introduced initiatives such as a 50 per cent electricity subsidy and solar mini-grids in selected hospitals, these efforts have not fully addressed the crisis. We must rethink our traditional power generation and supply models,” Salako stated.
He emphasised the need for a whole-of-government approach and encouraged public-private partnerships to attract investments in alternative and renewable energy solutions for hospitals.
He also acknowledged issues like fire incidents, theft of critical infrastructure, and maintenance challenges in hospitals that had already adopted alternative energy sources.
“The time for experimentation and haphazard energy solutions is over. We must develop smart, integrated energy strategies to reduce hospitals’ mounting electricity bills, which run into hundreds of millions of Naira monthly,” he added.
The upcoming National Stakeholders Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector, to be hosted in either Abuja or Lagos, will bring together experts from the health and power sectors.
Its objectives include assessing Nigeria’s power policy environment, identifying sustainable energy solutions, strengthening public-private partnerships, and developing a collaborative action plan for efficient electricity supply in public health institutions.
The Implementation Committee is tasked with organising the dialogue, ensuring the execution of its recommendations, and mobilizing resources for sustainable electrification of healthcare facilities.
Salako expressed appreciation for the commitment of the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Minister of Power, government agencies, and development partners for their support in addressing the power challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
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