By Haruna Gimba
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate upgrade of key health infrastructure and equipment across all six geo-political zones of the country.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the approval was in line with Tinubu’s administration vision of overhauling the health and social welfare sector for enhanced service delivery to Nigerians.
Ngelale added that the upgrading health infrastructure and equipment is a top priority of President Tinubu’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
“The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) will carry out the comprehensive upgradation of cancer-treatment infrastructure and other critical developments in six tertiary hospitals across several geopolitical zones, in addition to the full renovation and expansion of prior investments to improve broad-based access to high-quality healthcare in all six geo-political zones of the federation.
“The following teaching hospitals across geo-political zones have been marked for the establishment of oncology and nuclear medicine centres per facility as part of President Tinubu’s bid to ensure that world class cancer diagnosis and care is accessible across the country:
“University of Benin Teaching Hospital; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, University of Nigeria (Nsukka) Teaching Hospital, Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, University of Jos Teaching Hospital and Lagos University Teaching Hospital,” he said.
The statement added that 10 critical health care service expansion projects across the fields of radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology, and cardiac catheterization will be carried out in the following ten hospitals across all geo-political zones.
“North-West: Reference Hospital, Kaduna (Radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology); South-East: Medical Diagnostic Centre Complex, Enugu (Radiology, clinical pathology, medical & radiation oncology), North-West: Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto (Diagnostic and intervention radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterization).
“Others are; South-West: University College Hospital, Ibadan (Diagnostic and intervention radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterization); South-South: University of Uyo Teaching Hospital — (Radiology and clinical pathology), North-East: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi (Radiology and clinical pathology), South-South: Federal Medical Centre, Asaba — (Radiology and clinical pathology).
“The remaining are; North-Central: Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre Complex, Ilorin (Radiology and clinical pathology); North-Central: Jos University Teaching Hospital (Radiology and clinical pathology) and North-East: Federal Medical Centre, Nguru (Radiology and clinical pathology).
Ngelale added that the projects to be delivered within 12-18 months, will improve screening and diagnostics for communicable and non-communicable diseases; reduce mortality rates and improve outcomes for non-communicable diseases.
“They create considerable employment opportunities for clinical, administrative, and managerial personnel across all six geo-political zones, all while building the capacity of clinical personnel in advanced procedures and diagnostics and treatment modalities, in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.”
