29th April, 2023
Lai Mohammed said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is leaving behind a legacy of quality healthcare delivery through Universal Health Coverage.
The Minister of Information and Culture stated this on Saturday at the inauguration of an 80-bed Mother and Child Hospital in his hometown, Oro, near Ilorin in Kwara.
The hospital, facilitated by the minister, was built by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Another 40-bed hospital built in Igbaja town, also facilitated by the minister through the SDG Office was also inaugurated as part of the activities.
The inaugurations were parts of activities lined up for the 2023 Oro Day celebrations.
Mohammed said the Buhari administration was executing universal health suffrage by expanding the net for those to be captured under the Health Insurance Programme.
“The Basic Health Care Provision Fund is being operationalized to provide health care to poor and indigent Nigerians. We will ensure the availability of a basic minimum package of health services.
“This will ensure that at least 100,000,000 Nigerians will have health insurance coverage through public and private sources,” he said.
The minister disclosed that the federal government was partnering with the AFREXIM Bank to host the regional center for health excellence in Abuja.
According to him, the groundbreaking has been done and the super hospital will be managed by the King’s College Hospital, London.
“The administration’s response to health emergencies has remained unprecedented particularly how we were able to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
“Worthy of note is that under this administration, Nigeria has been certified Wild Polio Free,” he said.
On how Kwara had benefitted from the federal government’s health projects, Mohammed said no fewer than three of such hospitals and the facilities had been executed by the SDGs office in the state.
According to him, a 100-bed hospital equipped with state-of-the-art facilities had been commissioned in Eiyenkorin, Asa Local Government Area to reduce maternal death, infant, and neonatal deaths.
The minister said the 80-bed hospital being inaugurated in Oro was equally equipped to promote the health of mothers and children.
“It has a Theatre, Incubators, Ventilators, Phototherapy Machines, Patient Monitor, Children Beds, Examination beds, 100kva generator, Furnished and lit with solar street lights.
“This development is in line with PMB’s administration commitment to providing health facilities to cater to the needs of Nigerians.
“I am told that the SDGs Office commissioned over 35 of the 100-bed hospitals spread across the country.
“It also commissioned twenty 80-bed hospitals and numerous primary health centers across the country,” he said.
Mohammed commended the SDGs Office for the giant strides it has recorded in the provision of social services across the country particularly in remote places.
The minister appreciated the President for his numerous support to Kwara, particularly his community.
“Recall that some weeks ago, we were here to perform the groundbreaking for the construction of a power transmission substation.
“The network of roads constructed in Oro is also a testament of Mr President’s footprints in this community.
“I will urge you to continue to support the government to succeed and also to take advantage of the health facility to promote the health and well-being of mothers and children,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, the state Governor, AbdulRaheem AbdulRazaq, said history would not forget Buhari for the giant stride in the health sector and infrastructure development across the country.
Represented by his Commissioner for Health, Dr Raji Razaq, the governor also thanked the minister for facilitating the projects and the SDG’s office for executing them.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President of SDG, Princess Adejoke Adefulire, urged the residents to take possession of the hospital.
She also urged women in the community and environment to put them to use, reiterating that the hospitals were equipped with modern facilities not only for women and children but also for men.
Adefulire reiterated the federal government’s commitment to delivering quality healthcare services to the citizens.