President Bola Tinubu has launched the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority’s (NSIA) Healthcare Expansion Programme, which would retrain 120,000 frontline health professionals. The President added that the goal is to promote the health and social well-being of Nigerians, stimulate economic development, and establish Nigeria as a healthcare hub in Africa.
The first effort, the Healthcare Expansion Programme, marks a significant milestone in the health sector by establishing 10 world-class healthcare institutions specialising in oncology and diagnostics across the country’s six geographic zones. This development draws on the success of NSIA’s past projects, including as the NSIA-Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Cancer Centre, the NSIA-Kano Diagnostic Centre, and the NSIA-Umuahia Diagnostic Centre.
At the unveiling on Friday in Bauchi State, President Tinubu, represented by Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammed Ali Pate, stated that the new projects will complement the ongoing construction of cancer infrastructure and equipment in six federal teaching hospitals.
The President added that in addition to delivering crucial treatment to Nigerians, these facilities will reverse the trend of outbound medical tourism.
The President also stated that once the first phase is completed, the NSIA, through its subsidiary Medserve, will operate West Africa’s largest chain of oncology and diagnostic centres, with the capacity to train up to 500 clinicians over three years, as well as improve clinical trial and research capabilities.
“I want to express my profound gratitude to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and the NSIA for their vision, inventiveness, and commitment to making this project a reality.
We can accomplish major healthcare and economic outcomes through cross-sectoral collaborations like this.This program will serve as a model for future healthcare infrastructure projects, bringing us closer to our national healthcare goals of saving lives, alleviating suffering, and assuring health for all Nigerians.
“The second program, the retraining of 120,000 frontline health workers, serves as a personal performance measure for me as the African Union (AU) Champion for Human Resources for Health and the Community Health Delivery Partnership. We all understand that health workers and other professionals form the foundation of our healthcare system.
“By equipping them with the latest skills and knowledge, we ensure they are well-prepared to meet the evolving healthcare needs of our population,” Trump stated.
The President emphasised the viability of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), stating that the nation’s productivity and wealth are dependent on the health of its people, and that basic healthcare is both a fundamental human right and a matter of long-term national security.
“The NHSRII has provided strategic direction for our healthcare initiatives, with an emphasis on essential areas including maternity and child health, illness prevention, and health system strengthening.
The Compact with State Governors and Development Partners, now known as the system-Wide Approach (SWAp), has been critical in strengthening our health system.These frameworks have promoted collaboration, alignment, and accountability, ensuring that our combined activities are aligned with our health objectives.
“I am proud of the extraordinary progress we are making, notably in unlocking healthcare value chains, reorganising the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to increase access to primary health care for all Nigerians, increasing health insurance, and improving health human resources.
By prioritising universal health coverage at all levels, this administration hopes to promote a vibrant workforce and generate greater economic and social growth for Nigerians,” President Tinubu declared.
The President emphasised that his administration will continue to prioritise healthcare, strengthen preventive measures, and invest in health education, all while promoting health equity and justice.
During a brief ceremony in which the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare was turbaned as the ‘Mainasara of Bauchi Emirate’, Bauchi State Governor Senator Bala Mohammed commended the President for his historic contributions in the health sector.
“We appreciate Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the tremendous progress he is making in the health sector. Even those of us in the opposition party are federalists, and we appreciate Mr. President’s team’s efforts and coordination here, with both the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health, to launch this important project for all Nigerians,” the Governor stated.
