Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative: Salako Commissions Five Projects Named After Abiodun, Osoba At FMC Abeokuta
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, on Saturday commissioned five projects at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta. He said the health sector component of the Renewed Hope Agenda being implemented via the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative is resting on 4 key pillars, one of which is to improve population health outcomes by ensuring accessible and qualitative healthcare services at all level. In line with Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to provide quality services in all the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions, he said the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has been embarking on series of capacity building and modernization of infrastructure in our hospitals.
“I am happy to inform you all that the projects being commissioned today here in Abeokuta is one out of many projects that will be commissioned in our Health facilities across the country in commemoration of the 2nd year anniversary of the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Barely 2 weeks ago, I was in Enugu on working visit and was able to commission not less 10 projects across 3 tertiary health institutions of the Federal government. While in Enugu, I also virtually supervised the commissioning of some equipment for cancer treatment in UITH Ilorin, UPTH Port Harcourt and UCTH Calabar. In this same vein, the Coordinating Minister has also been active and about a week ago was at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital to commission 10 projects with the potentials to positively impact service delivery in the institution.”
He said strategic showcasing of interventions to improve the capacity of the Federal Tertiary Health Institutions through infrastructural upgrade will continue in the coming weeks as the Tinubu administration celebrates its second year anniversary with concrete, people centred and impactful achievements and not by funfair. The projects have been named after prominent citizens of Ogun State including Prince Dapo Abiodun, the incumbent Governor as well as the former Governor Olusegun Osoba and others.
“Today, we are commissioning 5 key projects cutting across direct clinical care, ancillary services and administration. The 5 projects have been named after prominent Nigerians including our Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun whose performance as Mr. Project must have informed the Works and Maintenance Department being named after him. Also, our leader, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the parents of our former Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun and former CG of NSCDC Dr. Ade Abolurin are being honoured by having their names inscribed into the project. Additionally, 7 other ongoing projects to be completed soon will be named after eminent Nigerians who have contributed to the development of the hospital.”
He noted that when visited the hospital about 3 months ago and had an interaction with a cross-section of the staff, one of the key complaints was lack of office for consultants. He expressed his happiness that the management has risen up to the challenge by providing a building with 68 office facilities for consultants.
“With today’s commissioning, the bed capacity of the hospital is being increased by 180 thus addressing challenges around bed spaces for admission. The new laundry building and the equipment is expected to improve the quality and maintenance of our beddings, linen, garments and other textile throughout the hospital thus improving hygiene and preventing the spread of infections while the works building should be able to add to our ability to supervise projects and maintain our infrastructure.”
He however noted that additional buildings and equipment are not enough if they do not contribute to better patient experience and improved quality of care. he challenged the management and staff of the hospital to ensure that the new additional physical infrastructure are utilized for improved service delivery and positive impact in the health outcome of patients who visit this hospital. He said government will not measure hospitals by the many physical infrastructure put in place but on the impact on the health and well-being of Nigerians.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria in its determination to improve the health status of Nigerians have been doing everything possible to save lives, reduce physical pain, eliminate financial barrier to health and provide health for all Nigerians. We are revitalizing our primary healthcare system through a nation wide upgrade scheme to provide at least 2 functional level 2 PHC per ward by 2027. We are providing training for our frontline health workers and using the now reorganised Basic Healthcare Provision Fund to ensure that essential inputs for primary healthcare services is made available in selected primary facilities across the country.
“Government is also expanding tertiary care facilities nation-wide and bringing it closer to the people. In the last 2 years, the Federal Government has established additional 12 new tertiary health facilities. This is a strategic decision to match tertiary healthcare facilities with the growing population of our country and provide avenue of care for the growing burden of non communicable diseases in our country. We have also put machineries in place to be able to more timely recruit staff to run our Federal Tertiary Hospitals and in about 1 year we have employed not less than 15000 health workers to strengthen service delivery in 61 tertiary health institutions across the country.”
He said a key vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the health sector is to reverse the direction of medical tourism from outbound to inbound. He said the institution being one of Nigeria’s oldest Federal Medical Centres must play its part in realizing this vision by providing top class tertiary healthcare services. he assured that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will continue to support FMC, Abeokuta in order to play it part.
He appreciated and congratulated the outgoing medical director, Prof. Musa Olomu who will be ending his tenure in about a week.
” In this last 8 years, there is no doubt that you made your impact on this hospital to the best of your ability and within the limit of the resources available. I commend you for your hard work and sacrifice to keep the the vision of the founding fathers of this institution alive. I want to wish you well in your future endeavours and pray that Almighty Allah reward you for your service to the nation. You have done your bit and posterity will judge you.”
The Minister commended the Governor of Ogun State for providing peaceful and enabling environment and all the necessary sub-national support to hospital to thrive.
