FG to partner Media Trust on health progs, conferences
The Federal Ministry of Health would be partnering with Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust newspaper for its future medical conferences and exhibition programmes.
Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole made the promise yesterday during the second edition of the ‘All things medical conference and exhibition’ in Abuja.
The conference was organised by Media Trust Limited, in collaboration with Prompt Home Health and other partners. It is aimed at showcasing and harnessing Nigerian’s health facilities and services, as well as charting discussions on improving the country’s health system.
The minister commended Media Trust for the conference saying it was a necessary platform for change in the health sector.
“Let me thank you for eliciting discussions on the healthcare system in Nigeria. It is my hope that this conference will stimulate interest and support for better healthcare in Nigeria”, he said.
The minister also commended Media Trust for the theme of this year’s conference ‘Building a 21st century health care delivery system in Nigeria: The way Forward’. He described it as futuristic and also a recognition of the fact that we are not satisfied with status quo .
Prof Adewole said the country needed to look beyond building facilities, saying the critical things that make up health system are human resources, commodities, drugs and vaccines.
He said a health system was more than a mix of facilities and medical consultations, and actually a structure within which people, institutions, and organizations interact to mobilize and allocate resources for preventing and treating diseases and injuries.
While saying that funding was critical to quality health system, he said one of the things that government has done to improve the country’s health system is putting in place the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and appropriating N55 billion in the 2018 budget.
He said government targets improving primary healthcare services in the country and is putting measures in place so that for the first time, primary healthcare centres will get money directly.
He said the Federal Ministry of Health under his watch was laying the foundation for an upgraded responsive healthcare delivery system.
“We are very confident that within the shortest possible time, we will begin to reap the fruits,” he added.
Chief Operating Officer of Media Trust Limited, Abhay Desai said Nigeria has garnered quality facilities and medical personnel over the years that the citizenry can harness instead of engaging in medical tourism.
While saying that medical doctors in Nigeria are as good as anywhere else in the world, he said it was important for the country to celebrate its indigenous services and personnel.
He said Media Trust organised the conference in collaboration with Prompt Health and other partners to create, a platform where stakeholders could address the future of medical problems, issues in Nigeria and plan towards giving the country a 21stcentury healthcare service delivery.
“To my understanding, what this means is making health care available for all. Daily Trust is committed to making sure that we spread and let people know what is available in this country. We should start with Nigeria first and if required in worst cases, go to other places,” he added.