From Ijeoma John Nnewi
The Honorable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate has on Wednesday stated the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to the transformation of the nation’s health sector targeted at improving the health of Nigerians.
Pate made this statement during his official commissioning of the permanent site and his maiden visit as well as commissioning of projects at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra state.
He said that what was going on in NAUTH represented part of government efforts to ensure that Tinubu’s administration delivered on its mandate.
He praised the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of NAUTH Prof. Joseph Ugboaja and his team for the feat and foundation leaders who were honored during the ceremony, just as he acknowledged efforts of the private sectors for investing in the health area.
“The health sector is undergoing transformation under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration, which is focused to improving the health of every Nigerian.
“Such transformation is evident in the area of infrastructure, state-of-the-art equipment and quality health services to save lives and prevent diseases.
“This hospital represents part of government efforts to ensure we deliver on our mandate. We also recognize efforts of the private sector in investing in the health sector.
“Health is wealth. Without health, you can’t work, go to school, market and so on. This is the reason Mr President is investing heavily in the health sector in collaboration with all segments of the society.
“Amidst difficulties we are passing through as a nation, we are grateful to God who in his wisdom has placed on the saddle President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to assist us navigate through.
“We assure the hospital community and indeed the government and good people of Anambra state of continued support to improving health of the citizens, “he said
The CMD, Prof Ugboaja, in his address called on the Federal Government to help realise their vision and 10-year strategic development plan designed to lifting the institution to compete globally with others.
Prof. Ugboaja said the vision of the team he leads is to make the hospital rank among the top three health facilities in Nigeria by the year 2030.
“The 10-year strategic plan anchored on nine pillars which include: a strong governance structure, aggressive infrastructure, acquisition of equipment, robust financial management etc, have greatly helped to transform the hospital, enhance healthcare value chain and ensuring health security.
He, however, explained that while management has completed well over 4 km of roads, there is need for more internal roads, security cameras to cover the hospital environment, solar lights, just as he appealed to the Minister for Health to facilitate approval for the waiver to recruit staff.
The CMD disclosed the challenges at NAUTH hospital which include, inadequate number of staff, our schools are still located at our old site, even as most of our clinical unites have been relocated.
He also disclosed that there is need to construct more classrooms and hostels for the college of nursing and school of health information management.
“We are calling for more of Federal Government’s intervention to construct staff quarters to provide accommodation to house those who live far away from our facilities to affect the patients positively, ”he said.