By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Health Institutions Amos Gwamna Magaji yesterday, disclosed that migration of health workers from Nigeria to other countries in search of greener pastures posses significant challenge to the nation’s health care system.

Magaji spoke just as the Minister of Health, Prof.

Speaking at a public hearing on 16 bills aimed at establishing one health institution or the other, Magaji said the core of the hearing is to provide guidance on the actualization of the Federal Government’s commitment to improve the health care sector through the wide distribution of Healthcare Institutions in Nigeria.

He said that as a result of the growing population, there is need for reference hospitals closer to the people, particularly in rural and suburban areas.

According to him, tertiary health institutions in Nigeria are designed to provide tertiary healthcare services to complement primary and secondary care in the national healthcare system, adding that in order to develop and expand the country’s training institutions and ensure an equitable distribution of health manpower, the Federal Government must balance the inequality in the distribution of tertiary institutions across the country.

He argued that the mass exodus of health workers and professionals to other countries presents a significant challenge to Nigeria’s healthcare sector, saying “recently, there has been an enormous migration of doctors, Nurses and other health workers in search of “greener pastures” in other countries, leaving Nigeria’s health sector severely understaffed.

“The need to reposition the healthcare sector to meet numerous emerging challenges is crucial to its improvement.

“To succeed in this era, a system that is well invested in human resources and medical intelligence as the backbone of the health sector is required. The administrative appointment of capable persons based on merit in hospital management also has a role to play.

“Proper human resource management is critical to providing high-quality health care. Effective human resource management strategies are critical for improving health-care outcomes and access in Nigeria.

“As arguably the most important of the health system inputs, the performance and benefits the system can deliver depend largely on the knowledge, skills, and motivation of those responsible for providing health services.

“It goes without saying therefore, that this aspect of our health sector must be invested in to ensure a thriving and performing sector.

“The structural quality of a health system is heavily influenced by its healthcare infrastructure. As we carried out oversight functions to healthcare institutions across the country since the inauguration of this committee, what are undeniably evident are infrastructural deficiencies of health services, lack of equipment resulting largely from inadequate funding of health institutions by the government, and a total lack of maintenance culture for equipment provided.”

In his remarks, the Minister of Health said health sector research including that of the Cardiology is already taking place in many fronts in Nigeria, while establishing the institute will be an additional financial burden on government, adding that government is cutting down on the cost of governance by pruning down agencies of government.

Represented by a director in the ministry, Dr. Jimoh Olawale Salahudeen, the minister said the ministry remains enthusiastic and supportive of every effort geared towards ensuring growth and progress in the health sector.

He said while the ministry appreciates the effort of the House of the Representative in deepening healthcare services including training and research in the country, cardiovascular research is not in alert level than any other non-communicable diseases to warrant a compelling need for the establishment of National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Research and Treatment Centre, in Kano.

He said, “All the Federal Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres in Nigeria including those in the North West geo-political zone already have the mandate of Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases, Research and Training of Health care professional including medical doctors who are specialist in the management of cardiovascular diseases and other related cases.

“The Federal Teaching Hospitals in Northwest geo-political zone include: Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital Kano State, Anmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria Kaduna State, Usman Dan Fodio University Teaching Hospital Sokoto and Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina State, Federal Medical Center (FMC) Azare Bauchi State, FMC Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State, FMC Birnin Kudu in Jigawa State, FMC Gusau in Zamfara State.

“These aforementioned existing Federal Tertiary Hospitals (FTHs)’ Cardiovascular Units have not been overstretched nor reportedly underserving the people in the geo-political zone.

“In addition, other State Tertiary Hospitals in this zone complement the effort of the FTHs in responding to some of the specialized cardiovascular cases in this region. These hospitals have not been reported to be underserving the people.

“Furthermore, there is Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba — Lagos, an  agency under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare that has been coordinating medical research in the country as it is obtainable in other parts of the world including the USA, UK, Canada, Ghana, Senegal etc.

“Colleges of Health Technology are established to ensure the training of middle level Health Professionals in various fields of health practices Example: Nursing, Radiography, Dental Therapy and Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Pharmacy, amongst others.

“The establishment of Federal College of Health Technology Song, Adamawa State will provide opportunity for the eligible citizens and the people of Adamawa State to have access to health education, leading to the training of more health professionals that will improve the health workforce of the State with a view to curbing the health challenges of people in the grassroots.

“The establishment of the college will further boost economic activities of the area where it is cited.

“The migration of health workers and the epidemics and their emerging trend underscore the need for Nigeria to have enough and efficient health workforce that will be readily available when there are any health emergencies.

“The Federal Ministry of Health has no objection to the establishment of the proposed Federal Tertiary Health Institutions. However, this should be based on merit, considering geographical spread, burden of disease in the proposed location, population density as well as support from the host community and other stakeholders.

“The existing cardiovascular unit in Federal Tertiary Hospital should be strengthened. Government should ensure adequate medical manpower especially during this” period of massive brain drain in the country. Adequate funding of existing cardiology units in all FTHs.

“It is pertinent to note that, there already exist In Adamawa State, the College of Health Technology Michika and College of Health Technology Mubi but they are State owned.

“The Federal Ministry of Health is not averse to the establishing the Federal College of Health Technology Askira-Uba, as it will further boost the training and availability of Health Professional response to emergencies.“However, Health Technology is within the purview of the state.”

By David Torough, Abuja

Makurdi, the Benue state capital came alive as guests from all walks of life troop arrived yesterday for the Diamond Jubilee celebration of former Governor of the state, Senator Gabriel Torwua Suswam.

The two-day event organised  by Suswam’s family members and a committee of friends and political associates has expectedly drawn political leaders, business executives and  corporate  leaders, traditional rulers and religious leaders to the ‘Food Basket’ state to honour the former Governor.

The first day of the high-profile event will hold today at the College of Health Sciences Auditorium, Benue State University (BSU) and will feature presentation of a  book written in honour of the celebrant by a team of academics  and edited by former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof Ncholas Ada and Director, Centre for Gender Studies, BSU, Prof Member George-Genyi.

The occasion will be under the chairmanship of former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr Udom Emmanuel, while the Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia will be Chif Host.

Similarly, former Governor of Benue State and Secretary to Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume will be the Special Guest of Honour, while former Senate President, Senator David Mark and former National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Barnabas Gemade will be Fathers of the day.

Also expected to grace the occasion are Tor Tiv, HRM, Prof James Ortese Oirzua Ayatse and the Och’Idoma, HRM Elaigwu Odogbo John Obagaji as royal fathers of the day.

The second day of the event will feature a Thanksgiving Service at NKST Church, High-level Makurdi, to be followed by a grand reception for the celebrant at the IBB Square.

Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Prof Nicholas Ada in a chat with DAILY ASSET said the event was designed to honour Suswam for his contributions to the development of the state.

“Senator Suswam is a great Nigerian. He has achieved so much in everything he was opportuned to do especially as Governor of Benue state so it’s only natural to give honour to whom honour is due,” Ada stated.

The former Deputy Vice Chancellor, BSU said arrangements were fully in place in give the retinue of guests a befitting welcome to Benue state.

“As you know, Senator Gabriel Suswam is a crowd puller. We expect people to come from across the country.

“You know he was in the House of Representatives, he became Governor and also became a Distinguished Senator.“He has good relationship with so many people so we expect his friends and well wishers to  come in large numbers and as a Committee, we are prepared to host them,” Ada said.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Federal Government of Nigeria has disclosed plans to source from the private sector, part of the $10 billion required to provide regular electricity across Nigeria within the next five to 10 years.

This formed the crux of the deliberation when the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Power Chief Adebayo A.

The duo agreed that in view of the funding and technical requirement needed to advance the power sector in Nigeria, it had become imperative to seek private sector input through Public Private Partnership (PPP) in co-financing and providing expertise that will ensure optimal performance of power infrastructure.

The Director General of the PPP regulatory body said that in view of the importance of power to the economic development of Nigeria, optimizing performance of existing infrastructure as well as funding new ones was imperative.

He acknowledged the challenges in the sector was hydra-headed and went beyond funding alone, adding that with such inter-agency collaboration and partnership with the private sector, the limitations can be addressed.

Reacting to a comment by the Minister, the DG said that through its regulatory processes, the ICRC can midwife private sector investment of part of the $10bn in the power sector to provide regular electricity, attract more foreign direct investment to other sectors and ultimately grow the economy.

“Revamping the power sector requires planning, it involves investments and it takes time. So, we need to collaborate to solve the issues in this sector.

“The investment required in power is very huge and government cannot fund it alone, so we have to leverage on the financing capacity of the private sector. That is why the ICRC was set up to regulate this leverage.

“The Commission is poised to regulating the processes of attracting investment to the power sector”.

He commended the Minister for his vast knowledge of the sector, pointing out that Mr. President’s choice of him was commendable.

Dr Ewalefoh said that in a bid to accelerate PPP investment as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Commission had issued a 6-point policy direction which has ultimately streamlined the process of PPP service delivery.

The DG stressed that whereas the processes have been streamlined to accelerate project delivery and encourage investors to adopt PPP, the Commission was not relenting or compromising on its stringent regulatory function so as to forestall contingent liabilities or unnecessary delays by companies that lack the requisite capacity.

In view of the above the ICRC’s helmsman added that the Commission was now insisting on inserting conditions precedent to all PPP agreements such that any preferred bidder that defaults will have their agreement automatically nullified by reason of their default.

In his response the minister commended the DG for the initiative to visit the ministry with the proposal of advancing investment in power sector through PPPs.

He said, “For us to achieve 24 hours power supply across Nigeria in the next 5 to 10 years, there is a minimum funding requirement of about N10 billion in the next 10 years.

“The government cannot afford that, when there are other critical sectors in need of funding.

“Can government do it alone? No! which is why we have to look for or marshal private sector fund while still retaining government interest and ownership. That is where ICRC comes in.“We need to do this in collaboration with the private sector and the best way is through concession.”