The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has given the assurance that Nigeria will overcome United States President Donald Trump’s new sweeping health policy changes, particularly the halt to funding of health care interventions in developing countries.
Professor Pate stated this in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, while inaugurating the Bayelsa State Haemodialysis Centre and the General outpatient Centre at the Bayelsa Medical University, as part of weeklong activities to mark Governor Douye Diri’s five years in office.
The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare said it was imperative for all tiers of government to work in synergy to harness the country’s resources to provide for the health needs of citizens.
Health Minister, Professor Ali Pate inaugurates projects in Bayelsa state
While lauding Governor Douye Diri for establishing the Haemodialysis Centre in the state, Professor Ali Pate said the President had issued directives to develop a Medical Relief Programme to provide support to the people to reduce the cost of access to health care.
“Diabetes, hypertension and kidney failure and other non-communicable deseases are a major issue in our population and you are addressing it frontally by making active this hemodialysis centre. It’s really a strong statement of your commitment to address something that really touches the lives of thousands of our population so that people don’t die because they have kidney failure and you are doing it in a place that also train health workers to take care of them. Pate said.”
“As you are all aware, President Tinubu signed a contract with all the 36 states governments and FCT that we should join hands and transform Nigeria’s health sector to serve the Nigeria people.
“The President asked us to develop a Medical Relief Programme so that we can provide support to the people to reduce cost of access to health care. There are some challenges that have emerged in the last three weeks on health which is the US government policy changes but as a country, there is nothing we cannot overcome.”
He emphasized that the Federal government was revitalizing many primary health care centres across the country with over two thousand of such facilities in different stages of being revamped.
“The federal and state governments will work together to mitigate some of those challenges because even those who have HIV and kidney desease can come here and get treated without having to depend on someone from very far away land to come and support them.”
Earlier, Governor Douye Diri said he was motivated to establish the medical facility when he became governor following the death of his mother from renal failure complications in 2013.
Givernor Diri paid glowing tributes to the first civilian Governor of Bayelsa State, Late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha for initiating the 500 bed hospital two decades ago and his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson for converting part of the facility to a medical university.
“I feel very fulfilled today that our people will no longer die of renal failure and that Bayelsa can now offer these services to Bayelsans and to Nigerians.We will continue to do more because health is wealth.”
He further directed the Commissioner for Health Professor Seiyefa Brisibe and the Vice Chancellor of the Bayelsa Medical University, BMU, Professor Dimie Ogoina to ensure that the hospital was fully functional in six months’ time.
While describing the state as a tropical area and one of the most infested by Malaria, Governor Diri expressed appreciation to Professor Pate for approving Bayelsa State as one of the first states in the federation to have the malaria vaccines.
The Minister also inaugurated the Zipline Drone Flight Services for the distribution of medical supplies and consumables, as well as the 800meter concrete access road to the Facility.
