By Muhammad Amaan
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has urged heads of tertiary health institutions to sustain collaborations that ensure efficient healthcare services across Nigeria.
Pate made the call on Tuesday at the 113th regular meeting of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals (CCMDFTH) in Sokoto.
Represented by the ministry’s Director of Hospital Services, Dr Adesola Adegoke, he commended the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sokoto State Government and Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), urging other institutions to emulate the initiative.
He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to proper funding, infrastructure, and manpower provision for tertiary health institutions to guarantee affordable, quality healthcare and reduce medical tourism.
Prof. Pate encouraged participants to use the meeting to share experiences and knowledge for the betterment of citizens’ healthcare services nationwide.
Earlier, Sokoto State Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, represented by Deputy Governor, Idris Gobir, reassured participants of the state’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with institutions to improve healthcare at all levels.
He said that the government increased health sector budgets, recruited 2,400 community health workers for rural centres, and renovated and equipped healthcare facilities while sponsoring medical students at various levels.
The CCMDFTH Chairman, Prof. Saad Ahmed, explained that the meeting allowed heads to brainstorm, discuss challenges, and propose solutions affecting tertiary healthcare institutions and service delivery in Nigeria.
He highlighted that tertiary healthcare centres provided specialised services, conducted research, and trained manpower for breakthroughs in kidney transplants, heart surgery, and other complex medical procedures.
Ahmed added that the committee fostersed industrial harmony, strengthened Nigeria’s healthcare delivery, protected lives, preserved professional solidarity, and upheld the noble calling of healthcare service.
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by District Head Dr Jabbi Kilgori, described the meeting as a landmark event for healthcare services and called on traditional institutions to continue supporting public health initiatives.
The UDUTH Chief Medical Director, Prof. Anas Sabir, thanked colleagues for hosting the event at UDUTH and emphasised the need for more collaborations to improve public health services.
Dr Suleiman Baguda, Medical Director of Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kware, described the meeting as an excellent forum for sharing achievements and challenges in service delivery.
Baguda added that participants were expected to implement the meeting’s resolutions to enhance services, strengthen research, and develop manpower, ultimately leading to more effective and affordable healthcare for Nigerians.
The week-long event, hosted by UDUTH, Sokoto, includes exhibitions, interactive sessions, and specialist discussions.
