February 24, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government says plans to upgrade tertiary health institutions across the country to curb medical tourism and train 120,000 frontline health workers are underway.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ms. Daju Kachollom, disclosed this during a combined graduation of 1,249 frontline medical officers of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) held in Maiduguri on Saturday.
Daju noted that the training of frontline health workers across the country would boost health service delivery to the citizens
She revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the revamping of health institutions, adding that her visit was to ascertain and assess the level of equipment that both UMTH and Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospitals (FNPH) have on ground.
“Under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he has given a directive to upgrade all health institutions across the country, because we want to stop medical tourism and that’s why we are upgrading all our tertiary hospitals, and ensuring the clinical staff, not just doctors, but nurses and community health workers, are well equipped.
“In the next few weeks, we will begin to train over 120,000 frontline health workers that cut across the medical profession. Not only that, we are unlocking the value chains of having local manufacturers within Nigeria and the landscape is opened,” she said.
She praised the efforts of the leadership of both FNPH and UMTH for reposting the health sector in the region, noting that the sector has tremendously improved despite overwhelming challenges.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Ahmed Adhijo, thanked the Permanent Secretary for the support and interventions UMTH has received under her Ministry, noting that the new policy of revamping health institutions would address the issue of medical tourism.
Prof. Adhijo, who disclosed that the total number of graduands is 1,249, urged them to be good ambassadors of the college and add value to the health sector in the country.
He added that the graduands comprised 459 National Diplomas, 247 Higher National Diplomas, School of Health Information Management, 154 National Diploma from the School of Biomedical Engineering Technology, 389 certificates from the School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, and the School of Health Information Management.
About the Author
I am Ladi Dapson, a general writer with thewill. I cover Borno and Yobe states respectively.
I based Maiduguri, Borno State Capital.
I can be reached via ladi4media@gmail.com.
Very high and kind regards!
