President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate upgrade of critical health facilities and equipment in all six geopolitical zones across Nigeria.
This is in line with his administration’s aim of revamping the health and social welfare sectors to improve service delivery to all Nigerians.
This was revealed in a statement signed by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, on Thursday.
According to the statement, Tinubu’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative prioritizes the upgrading of health infrastructure and equipment.
He stated that in a bid to advance this landmark effort, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), will carry out the comprehensive upgradation of cancer treatment infrastructure and other critical developments in six tertiary hospitals across several geopolitical zones.
In addition, earlier investments will be fully renovated and expanded to increase broad-based access to high-quality healthcare in all six geopolitical zones of the federation.
As part of President tinubu’s bid to ensure that world-class cancer detection and care is available across the country, the following teaching hospitals in various geopolitical zones have been designated for the development of oncology and nuclear medicine centres:
Tinubu approved the development of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital oncology and nuclear medicine centers at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, the University of Nigeria (Nsukka) Teaching Hospital, the Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina, the University of Jos Teaching Hospital, and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
The statement added that “ten critical health care service expansion projects across the fields of radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology, and cardiac catheterization will be carried out in ten hospitals across all geopolitical zones.”
They include North-West: Reference Hospital, Kaduna (radiology, clinical pathology, medical, and radiation oncology); South-East: Medical Diagnostic Centre Complex, Enugu (radiology, clinical pathology, medical, and radiation oncology).
In the North-West, Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto (diagnostic and intervention radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterization); South-West: University College Hospital, Ibadan (diagnostic and intervention radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterization).
In the south-south region, the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (radiology and clinical pathology), the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba (radiology and clinical pathology), the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi (radiology and clinical pathology), and the Federal Medical Centre in Nguru (radiology and clinical pathology).
Others include North-Central: Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre Complex, Ilorin (radiology and clinical pathology), and Jos University Teaching Hospital (radiology and clinical pathology).
The statement added that “these critical projects, set to be delivered within 12–18 months, will improve screening and diagnostics for communicable and non-communicable diseases.”
The projects will also help to “reduce mortality rates and improve outcomes for noncommunicable diseases; create considerable employment opportunities for clinical, administrative, and managerial personnel across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.”
In line with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the projects will help to build “the capacity of clinical personnel in advanced procedures, diagnostics, and treatment modalities,” the statement added.
