The Federal Government has approved a 50% electricity subsidy for public hospitals nationwide.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, confirmed this in a statement issued on Thursday.
He stated that the initiative is designed to lower these facilities’ operational expenses and ease patients’ financial burdens.
During his address at the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, the Minister also inaugurated the Electronic Health Records system and Alternative Power Supply at the Lawal Jafaru Isah Emergency Complex.
Additionally, he launched a solarization project at the dialysis unit, which features a solar-powered borehole and a 10.2 KVA inverter equipped with a lithium battery at the Abdulkareem Jika Yusuf COVID-19 Intervention Centre.
“We are going to change the names of our Federal Hospitals to Specialist Hospitals to expand care delivery and destigmatize hospitals so that everybody can come here. While the core services will remain psychiatric, this re-naming will allow for the continuous expansion of services,” he said.
Alausa conveyed his trust in Dr. Aishatu Yusha’u Armiyau, the Chief Medical Director of the Hospital, asserting that the institution’s achievements are a testament to the commitments made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his electoral campaign.
During his visit to the National Eye Care Centre, where he inaugurated the Dr. G.O Adejor Optical Showroom and the Dr. M.B Alhassan Diagnostic and Laser Unit, Alausa remarked that the ongoing warning strike by the Resident Doctors is hindering efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped physician, Ganiyat Popoola, from the hospital staff quarters.
He urged for patience and reassured the hospital administration that the abducted doctor would be returned shortly.
He outlined a plan to engage with medical personnel residing abroad about the significant migration of medical professionals to other countries.
Despite facing inherited structural challenges, he affirmed that the President is in active discussions with state governments to enhance initiatives related to Health Science Universities to increase annual health sciences enrollment from 24,000 to 100,000.
Earlier, Dr. Aminatu Abdulrahman, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the National Eye Centre, highlighted that the centre, founded in 1979, offers specialized eye care services, training, and research opportunities for Nigeria.
