Insufficient funds, bane of nation’s healthcare delivery system — Presidential Aide

Insufficient funds, bane of nation’s healthcare delivery system —

Presidential Aide

 

The Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu

Buhari on Finance and Economy, Dr {Mrs.} Sarah Alade at

the weekend said that insufficient resources on the part of

government have remained a serious challenge towards

achieving quality health care delivery in the country.

She, therefore, called for contributions of non-profit

organisations, clubs, and communities to complement the efforts

of the government towards addressing the healthcare challenges

so as to bring healthcare delivery to everyone, particularly the

rural populace.

Alade, a former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of

Nigeria(CBN) and also the President of Offa Metropolitan

Club(OMC) in Kwara state stated this in Offa town in her

welcome address during the foundation laying ceremony of the

ultra-modern  Accident and Emergency unit to be donated by

her club to the state government.

She said, “UNESCO stipulated that 25 per cent of

government annual budget be invested in healthcare.

“But the annual federal government budget allocated to

healthcare in the past 10 years is about 5 per cent”.

Alade explained that “the Covid-19 pandemic has

furthered revealed the challenge and shortcoming of

Nigeria health system”.

She added that “We are confronted with numerous defects

such as shortage of health personnel. sufficient funding,

 

doctor-to-patient ratio, lack of health facilities especially in

rural areas, and outdated medical equipment among

others.

“There is therefore an urgent need to bridge this gap and

build a modern healthcare system that can cater to the

needs of the people. Fortunately, the government is

beginning to appreciate the contribution of not-for-profit

organisations, communities, and clubs to expand the pool

of much-needed resources to invest in the provision of

quality of services.

“We, therefore, thank Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of

Kwara state for the opportunity to partner with the government

in the provision of healthcare in Offa town and its environment”.

 

Alade who stated further that, her club, Offa Metropolitan

Club was formed in 2019 with the objective of contributing

to the development of economic, social, cultural progress

of Offa and its environment added that, “the motto of the

club is “Making the Difference” and that is what we are

setting to do with the foundation laying of an ultra-modern

Accident and Emergency unit to be sited at the Offa

General Hospital “.

It will also be equipped with a 250KVA transformer,

200KVA generators, a 10KVA solar power system,

external lightings, central television, closed-circuit

television, telephone, and data facilities”.

Also speaking at the event, the state governor, Alhaji

AbdulRazaq lauded the giant stride of the Offa

Metropolitan Club in their effort to complement the

government efforts at bringing healthcare delivery to the

people of rural populace.

 

The governor who was represented at the event by the

state commissioner for Health, Dr. Raji Razaq said that the

present administration would continue to encourage

partnership in the bid to add values to the socio-economic

development of the state.

He, therefore, urged other corporate organisations and

well to do people of the state to come forward to support

the state government in the bid to bring new lease of life to

the people of the state.

Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye 11

commended the club for rising to the needs of the people

of the community.

The monarch, therefore, urged other clubs in the town to

emulate Offa Metropolitan Club so as to fast track the

socio-economic development of the town nothing that,

“government alone cannot do everything, it behooves on

the people of the town to support the government so as to

advance the needs of the people.”