By Iyemah David
Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima has called for a stronger partnership with stakeholders in the health sector for a better health care delivery in the country.
The vice president made the call on Saturday in Abuja, at a dinner organised by Southern Borno Stakeholders Forum in honour of the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Health, Dr Salma Anas-Ibrahim.
Shetima called on Nigerians to trust and have confidence on Dr Salma as they faced the challenges of leadership together.
He said highlighted the government’s economic decisions and emphasised the importance of a culture of inclusiveness and forgiveness.
“Certainly, Dr Salma Anas is one of our best, experience is not something you can buy in the marketplace, experience is something that you have to add on sometimes you will add a price, she was in Yemen which is one of the trouble spots in the world.
“She has garnered a wealth of experience and exposure in Egypt, in Somalia, so when I look at her rich resume. I feel compelled that this is the lady that should drive the process of change in the health sector, as she did wonderfully well in in Borno state
“Another opportunity came on board to contribute in service of our nation and to humanity. She won’t disappoint us. She very committed, very honest, operate very anxious, very, very passionate about her job,” he said.
Kashim Shettima also called on Nigerians to invest their trust and confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu compatibilities, things are stuff, things are bad, but we are not complaining.
“We campaign for the job. We went around the country, all the 36 states of the Federation, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.
“We campaign vigorously, and for me I ever went the whole hog and assaulting people and so on. So we are ready, we are prepared to take the challenge of leadership, the withdrawal of fuel subsidy was a painful decision that the government had to take, it wasn’t deliberate.
“But in the fullness of time Nigerians will come to appreciate president Tinubu,” he said.
According to him, The economy will pick up, a month after we assumed the mantle of leadership, what we had to distributed was N1.9 trillion, in order not to overheat the economy.
“We will distribute N900 billion and kept N1 trillion in reserves, as the economy picks up, I am absolutely certain that is the next couple of months.
“Nine prepared months, our economy would stabilize and all those speculating on our naira would pay a very heavy price in terms of lost because the naira will bounce back, the economy will bounce back and Nigerians will have every cost to celebrate,” he explained.
The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Anas, said that this administration is passionate about the concerns of women and children.
According to her, President Tinubu is very passionate about Nigerians health and upgraded me to be his special adviser, and my passion for improving access to quality Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Adolescent, and Elderly Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) services, including sexual and reproductive rights, as well as gender-based violence will continue.
She said that this government would be collaborating with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), to ensure the health of Nigerians.
She said that by leveraging the expertise and resources of the private sector it would improve access to basic healthcare services for Nigerians.
She noted that Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda aimed to achieve health for all through an efficient and effective universal health care coverage system, using the continuum model as contained in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The event concluded with the cutting of a celebratory cake and the presentation of an awards to Dr Anas by the Southern Borno Stakeholders Forum, symbolising the recognition of her outstanding contributions to society.
