By Chuks Eke
Barely few days after the maiden working visit of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, CMOHASW, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate to Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi,Anambra state where he commissioned some new projects, the Chief Medical Director, CMD of NAUTH, Prof. Joseph Ugboaja has described the visit as a gainful and bountiful venture.
He contended that the success of that working visiting by the August visitor to the Permanent Site of the Teaching Hospital and the relocation of the management and operations of the hospital from the Temporary site to the more specious Permanent site was so unquantifiable, having been achieved through a strategic framework carried out with a collaborative efforts between the critical stakeholders, federal Ministry of Health, the Anambra state government and the doggedness of the management of the health institution.
Prof. Ugboaja who spoke in his office at the weekend during a post ministerial visit press briefing, further contended that the achievements and successes made by NAUTH so far are closely aligned with the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Initiative, NHSRI 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.
According to Prof. Ugboaja, “the NHSRI, through the Compact and the Sector-Wide Approach, SWAP emphasizes coordinated efforts between federal and state governments development partners and private sector entities”.
“The integration ensures that resources are effectively utilized as 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 institution to be among the top three health facilities in Nigeria by 2030”.
“The remarkable progress at NAUTH has been significantly catalyzed by the visionary leadership of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the Honourable Coordinating Ministries. Their unwavering support and strategic direction has been instrumental in fostering an environment where ambitious projects like the NAUTH Permanent site can flourish”.
“Their commitment to healthcare excellence in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, RHA has provided the necessary impetus for transformative initiatives”
“Leadership, according to Simon Sinek, Ugboaja maintained, is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge. This philosophy resonates deeply with leadership shown by President Tinubu and Hon. Pate whose guidance have 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 is equivalent of boosting quality healthcare through collaborative funding and insurance coverage as well as being part of a broader strategy to boost quality healthcare across Nigeria. FMOHASW along with its partners is ramping up funding and extending health insurance coverage through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, BHCPF”.
“This initiative aims at strengthening Primary Health Care, PHC systems Nationwide, ensuring that even the most remote communities have access to essential health services. The expertise and advanced facilities at NAUTH and other secondary and tertiary care centers will greatly benefit PHCs by providing a referral network that ensures continuity of care. Patients can receive primary care at local health centers and be referred to specialized facilities like NAUTH for more complex treatments. This integrated approach enhances the overall healthcare delivery systems, ensuring that all Nigerians receive the care they need.
He said the recent commissioning of the NAUTH Permanent Site is not just a celebration of past accomplishments but a reaffirmation of our commitment towards a brighter future for healthcare in Anambra state and Nigeria at large. As we look into the future, it is clear that challenges remain that we will require ever more robust collaboration. Continued efforts are necessary to ensure that every Nigerian has access to quality health services”.
Ugboaja therefore commended President Tinubu, Hon. Pate, Governor Soludo of Anambra state, former Director-General of Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, SSA to Tinubu on SDGs, Adehoke Arelope-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”.
