NAUTH CMD hails minister, seeks more collaborations on healthcare

The Chief Medical Director of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja, has hailed the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammed Ali Pate, for his visit to the hospital, describing it as a gainful and impactful venture.

Recall that Pate had, two weeks ago, paid a working visit to the hospital for its final inauguration and the first anniversary of its permanent site.

During the visit, the minister joined the management and staff of the hospital to celebrate the first anniversary of the project inauguration by the Presidency at the permanent site and also honoured the hospital’s founding fathers and critical stakeholders.

The minister also inaugurated several projects, including a 2,000-bed space facility, two oxygen plants, and the groundbreaking of the regional ultra-modern radio diagnostic centre for the South-East region, among others.

Ugboaja, while reacting to the maiden minister’s visit during a press conference at the hospital over the weekend, said the impact of the minister’s working visit to the permanent site was “unquantifiable and strategic.”

The CMD said it was a strategic framework carried out through collaborative efforts between the critical stakeholders, the Federal Ministry of Health, the state government and the doggedness of the management of the health institution.

He averred that the achievements and successes made by NAUTH so far are closely aligned with the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Initiative of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which he noted was built on four pillars.

He mentioned the four pillars as improving governance of the health sector, enhancing population health outcomes, unlocking the healthcare value chain and ensuring health security.

He said, “The Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Initiative, through the compact and the sector-wide approach, emphasises coordinated efforts between federal and state governments, development partners and private sector entities.

“The integration ensures that resources are effectively utilised and that there is a unified approach to tackling healthcare challenges. The development of NAUTH exemplifies these principles, showcasing the power of strategic thinking and partnership through a 10-year development plan aimed at positioning the health institution to be among the top three health facilities in Nigeria by 2030.

“The remarkable progress at NAUTH has been significantly catalysed by the visionary leadership of President Tinubu and the coordinating ministries. Their unwavering support and strategic direction have been instrumental in fostering an environment where ambitious projects like the NAUTH permanent site can flourish.

“The commitment to healthcare excellence, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, has provided the necessary impetus for transformative initiatives.

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge. This philosophy resonates deeply with the leadership shown by President Tinubu and Pate, whose guidance has empowered institutions like NAUTH to strive for excellence.

“The government’s whole-of-society approach has fostered an environment where private and public sectors collaborate effectively to achieve common goals.

“The improvements at NAUTH are equivalent to boosting quality healthcare through collaborative funding and insurance coverage as well as being part of a broader strategy to boost quality healthcare across Nigeria. The Federal Ministry of Health, along with its partners, is ramping up funding and extending health insurance coverage through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.”

He explained that the final commissioning of the NAUTH permanent site is not just a celebration of past achievements, but a reaffirmation of its commitment to a brighter future for healthcare in Anambra State and Nigeria at large.

Ugboaja, therefore commended President Tinubu, Pate, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, former Director-General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, SSA to Tinubu on SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the mass media, NAUTH management team, Sir Emeka Offor, Chief Cletus Ibeto and the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who have contributed immensely towards repositioning NAUTH as it stands today.