Minister of Defence Major General Salihi Magashi (rtd) has revealed plans by the military to replicate Walter Reed Military Hospital to manage wounded soldiers, veterans and their families.
He said the move followed President Buhari’s approval of the reform of the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Magashi stated this in his keynote address at the Needs Assessment and Strategic Review Project Kick-Off Workshop on Reforming Military Health Services in Nigeria held in Abuja.
He noted that as obtainable in other parts of the world, the new Ministry of Defence “will have a mix of military and civilian personnel working together in an integrated manner to provide multi-disciplinary advice and expertise for an effective management of the Ministry by the minister of defence”.
He said the ministry decided to implement the reform in piece meal.
“An important component of the reform is the Armed Forces Healthcare delivery system. Under my leadership, the Ministry has resolved to review the Armed Forces Health System, identify gaps and reposition it to better serve Military personnel, veterans and their families as well as the general public”.
“My vision is to put in place mechanisms that will lead to the establishment of a World Class Military Hospital akin to Walter Reed Military Hospital in the USA that will successfully manage officers and soldiers injured in battle as well as provide serving personnel, veterans, their families and indeed Nigerians quality healthcare services.
“I am soliciting for your support to set this noble project in motion even though I know accomplishing this during our time in the Ministry may be difficult but we look forward to be beneficiaries of this noble venture in the nearest future.
“ therefore need a coordinated and unified Armed Forces Healthcare delivery system to tackle our enormous challenges”.
Earlier, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Defence, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar Kana said the hospital could be located in any part of the country.
He added that the hospital will provide an opportunity for disease surveillance and support National health which he said is always threatened once health workers embark on strike.
He added that over 70 percent of the Armed Forces of Nigeria hospital patients are civilians.
The Chief of Defense Staff General Lucky Irabor commended the initiative noting that such it would go a long way in stabilizing the society.
“I believe this project ought to have been yesterday, the intention is to optimize medical management of our armed forces.”
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