Minister of Health and Social Welfare commissions diagnostic center in Bauchi.
By Abubakar Hardawa
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate has commissioned oncology and diagnostic healthcare center at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital ATBUTH Bauchi.
The Minister also demonstrated the ground breaking for the commencement of construction of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Cancer Centre, Kano Diagnostic Centre and the Umuahia Diagnostic Centre respectively.
Speaking at the ceremony in Bauchi, Professor Ali Pate said the establishment of 23 diagnostic centres, 3 additional oncology centres and 7 catheterization laboratories across the country and the FCT will optimise oncology and diagnostic care in the country.
He explained that the new oncology and diagnostic centers are projected to serve approximately 5,000 and 350,000 patients respectively to reduce the burden of cancer and improve preventive care through diagnosis.
According to the Minister, the healthcare expansion will further unlock access to world class oncology care, reduce cancer-related death, support the retention of foreign exchange that would otherwise have been deployed for health care and improve preventive care through proactive diagnosis.
On his part, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Chief Olawale Edun noted that locating the centres at Federal tertiary hospitals would enable them offer treatments and cut edge technology in accordance with international standards.
Chief Edun said the development is expected to encourage Nigerians to seek high-quality care within the country and reduce medical tourism abroad.
Governor Bala Muhammad of Bauchi State who commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for actualizing his Renewed Hope Agenda, said his administration has expended 250 billion naira to equip the state’s specialist hospital.
The Governor pledged to support the federal government’s policies and programmes that have direct impact on the lives of the people.
Earlier, the Managing Director of MedServe, Dr Tolulope Adewole who noted that they are committed to uplift the socio economic wellbeing of Nigerians hence the focus to expand access to quality medicare through medical infrastructure investment, capacity building of medical personnel and strategic partnerships with critical stakeholder in the oncology value chain.
In a remark, the Chairman of MedServe, Alhaji Aminu Umar Sadiq commended the federal government for considering healthcare service as key for national development hence the focus on creating opportunities for all Nigerians to optimise health services.
Aminu Umar Sadiq said MedServe, through the phased healthcare expansion will further improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria and attract investments in medical infrastructure.
In his welcome address, the Chief Medical Director ATBUTH, Professor Yusuf Bala Jibrin who decried some health care service in the hospital, expressed optimism that the projects when completed will enhance effective service delivery in the state.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman House Committee on Health, Dr Emos Magaji said the federal government and the national assembly declared state of emergency on the health sector.
MedServe, is the healthcare company of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority NSIA.
