President Bola Tinubu has said reforms under his administration have expanded access to basic healthcare services to more than 37 million Nigerians, following investments in primary healthcare, infrastructure, manpower and local pharmaceutical production.
Tinubu disclosed this in a congratulatory message to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, on his birthday.
According to a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu credited Pate with driving key components of the administration’s health reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said more than 3,100 primary healthcare centres had been revitalised, while the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) had been reorganised to enable millions of Nigerians access essential health services.
He also cited the establishment of three oncology centres across the geopolitical zones as part of efforts to improve cancer treatment at home and reduce the number of Nigerians travelling abroad for care.
Tinubu said more than 20,000 health professionals had been recruited into federal tertiary hospitals to cushion the impact of the migration of medical personnel, while over 78,000 frontline health workers had received training to improve primary healthcare delivery nationwide.
The President also highlighted the vaccination of more than 17.1 million adolescent girls against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), describing it as a significant intervention in protecting young Nigerians against cervical cancer.
He commended Pate for efforts to attract private investment into the country’s healthcare and pharmaceutical industries through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC).
According to Tinubu, the initiative has secured a project pipeline worth more than $5 billion, reflecting growing investor interest in expanding Nigeria’s capacity to manufacture medicines and other health products locally.
Tinubu described Pate as a distinguished and globally acclaimed health professional whose contributions had been invaluable to the implementation of the administration’s healthcare agenda.
As the minister marked his birthday on September 6, Tinubu joined his family, friends and associates in wishing him good health and renewed strength to continue serving the country.
