By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a total of $1.07 billion in financing for healthcare sector reforms under the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) program, as well as a N4.8 billion allocation for HIV treatment, signaling a major investment in Nigeria’s health sector.

This was contained in a statement by the Ministry of Health through the Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations, Alaba Balogun in Abuja. The statement reads, “The announcement was made by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who disclosed that the World Bank’s concessional financing arm, the International Development Association (IDA), has provided two concessional loans of $500 million each, alongside $70 million in grant funding from other international bodies.”The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, elaborated on the key components of the financing, stating that the HOPE program aligns with the administration’s agenda to strengthen human capital development.”Elaborating further, Prof. Pate explained that the funds will be directed toward improving governance in healthcare and enhancing primary healthcare services nationwide.“This financing will support recruitment, training, and retention of healthcare workers and teachers at the subnational level,” Pate said.“Additionally, $500 million is dedicated to expanding the quality, utilization, and resilience of the primary healthcare system, including emergency maternal and child health services.””As part of broader healthcare reforms, the council also approved N4.8 billion for the procurement of 150,000 HIV treatment packs over the next four months.”This initiative, Pate emphasized, underscores the federal government’s commitment to providing life-saving treatment and reducing healthcare costs for vulnerable populations.”Furthermore, the FEC discussed the implications of recent U.S. policy changes on Nigeria’s health programs, particularly regarding HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria funding”.A multi-ministerial committee, including representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Health, Defense, and Environment, as well as the Governors’ Forum, has been tasked with developing a transition and sustainability plan to mitigate potential funding disruptions.“This administration is committed to ensuring that those receiving treatment do not experience interruptions,” Pate assured. “We appreciate the U.S. government’s contributions over the years and remain committed to a constructive partnership while strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system with domestic resources.”With these decisions, President Bola Tinubu’s led administration has reinforced its focus on healthcare, human capital development, and financial sustainability, setting the stage for transformative improvements in the nation’s social services sector. FTHL Unions Expresses Confidence in CMD’s LeadershipFrom Joseph Amedu, LokojaThe Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja (FTHL), have denied the allegation of any industrial crisis in the hospital.The joint unions were reacting to the protest embarked on by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FTHL, demanding the immediate reinstatement of its suspended President, Dr. Jimoh Umar.The doctors claimed that the Federal Government through the Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, has approved the reinstatement of the suspended President, and demanded for its implementation.However, the Chairman of JOHESU), John Umoche; Chairman of NANNM, Abdulmalik Idris and Chairman of Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria, Dr Lawal Mohammed, FTHL, in a press Conference held in Lokoja, described the allegation as “unfortunate and inhuman”The unions collectively expressed confidence in the capacity of the current administration under the leadership of Dr. Olatunde Alabi, as the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of FTHL.They noted that the unions in its emergency meeting of unit excos of JOHESU and NANNM dissociated themselves with the content of the publication in its entirety.The unions also refuted the claim that the FTHL was having only 43 doctors, stressing that the hospital currently has a total of 228 doctors.According to him, the 228 doctors comprised 49 residents, 86 consultants, 42 medical officers, 43 house officers (HOs), and 7 others.”The said publication is a complete opposite of the situation in Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja(FTHL)and the author does not mean well for the hospital and the inhabitants of Kogi State.”It is expected that every staff member of the hospital, especially the front line healthcare providers be seen to be of high moral standard and not be found wanting in this regard or be given opportunity to exhibit or continue to exhibit misconduct.”No one should be seen or be exempted so as not to create a wrong impression in the minds of other health workers which could be a recipe for future anarchy.”The hospital is being governed by the top management staff under the leadership of the CMD and decisions on issues brought before her are taken at that level after serious evaluation and consultation with the public service rules,and not by an individual.”The management of (FTHL) is doing her best within the available resources and has instilled discipline and guarantee peace and security within the hospital community.”This effort should not be frustrated as we have confidence in the capacity of the current administration under the leadership of Dr. Alabi Olatunde Oladeji.”Any individual or group who may have disciplinary issues should sort it out at the management level as it has always been with other members of staff,” the unions said.The unions, therefore warned that it would no longer condoned any act that would truncate the peaceful coexistence of members of staff of the hospital, saying, “We would vehemently resist this as no one is above the public service rules”.They called on the Minister of Health to use his good office to nip the situation in the board, adding that: “we urge President Bola Tinibu, and other stakeholders to disregard the false rumor of crisis rocking FTHL. Diri Pays Unscheduled Visit to Schools, Frowns at State of InfrastructureFrom Mike Tayese, YenagoaBayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri has expressed displeasure at the state of facilities in some public schools in the state.Speaking in Kaiama at the end of an unscheduled visit to Saint Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata-Yenagoa, and the Ijaw National Academy, Kaiama in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area, Diri said the government’s budgetary provisions and expenditure in the education sector do not match the reality on ground.The governor directed the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Gentle Emelah, to immediately take steps to address dilapidated structures in schools across the state.At the Ijaw National Academy, the governor noted the absence of sporting facilities as well as the uncompleted dining hall and directed the commissioner to ensure that the contractor returned to site.He restated the commitment of his administration to development of the education sector giving its importance to nation building.Diri said he will undertake more unscheduled visits to schools and other government departments to see things for himself and called on relevant officials to take more serious maintenance of public facilities.He said with the progress made by the state in external examinations such as the West African School Certificate Examination (WASCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), it was necessary to put the right facilities in place to enable the students to perform better.His words: “I have been to Saint Jude’s and I am here at the Ijaw National Academy. I am not satisfied with what I have seen.“If schools that are in the urban, motorable areas are in this state, how would those in the rural, riverine communities be like?”In this second tenure, I will pay unscheduled visits to our schools, hospitals and other important government agencies.“Students are very important. I am not happy with the state of dilapidation I saw at St Jude’s. We must strengthen supervision.”I have directed the Commissioner for Education to ensure that your school is rehabilitated. I have also directed that between now and Friday, the completed basketball court be handed over to the school authorities in Saint Jude’s. This is a school that has been doing well and has made our state proud many times in basketball.”The Highlight of the visit was the governor, who was a teacher, returning to the classroom at the INA to teach senior secondary students preparing for Government as a subject in the upcoming WAEC examination.