Third Anniversary: Tinubu inaugurates health facilities across Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu on Friday inaugurated new and upgraded health infrastructure projects across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Mr Tinubu described the investments as the most ambitious healthcare renewal programme undertaken in a generation.

The projects formed part of activities marking the third anniversary of his administration and were inaugurated virtually.

This is contained in a statement on Friday by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga.

At the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, Mr Tinubu inaugurated the Bola Tinubu Specialist Complex, a two-storey specialist healthcare facility.

The complex was designed to provide integrated specialist and VIP healthcare services for Nigerians.

Mr Tinubu also launched the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System Emergency Response Fleet across the country.

The fleet was described as the largest single-day deployment of emergency medical transport in Nigeria’s history.

It comprises 145 tricycle ambulances, six boat ambulances and 79 emergency ambulances for federal tertiary hospitals nationwide.

The deployment also included digital equipment to improve emergency coordination and response services across the country.

According to Mr Onanuga, the fleet will operate under the SAVEMAMA programme to improve emergency maternal and newborn healthcare services.

He said underserved rural, riverine and hard-to-reach communities would particularly benefit from the intervention.

Mr Tinubu also inaugurated a fleet of Compressed Natural Gas-powered ambulances for the nation’s 73 federal tertiary health institutions.

The initiative is expected to strengthen referral services, reduce operational costs and improve healthcare delivery nationwide.

In the North-West, the President inaugurated renovated and expanded State Polio Emergency Operations Centres in Katsina, Kano and Sokoto states.

The centres are expected to strengthen immunisation coordination, disease surveillance and outbreak response operations.

Mr Tinubu also inaugurated the Gadon Kaya Primary Health Centre in Kano State and the Aboh Primary Health Centre in Delta State.

The projects were executed under the World Bank-supported Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services Project.

The President further inaugurated a Laboratory Complex at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in Akwa Ibom State.

He also inaugurated an Administrative Complex at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State.

Mr Tinubu additionally inaugurated a Pharmacy Quality Control Laboratory at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria.

In the North-East, he inaugurated a 50-bed Mental Health and Drug Rehabilitation Centre at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

The centre is expected to provide specialised treatment for patients battling psychological and substance abuse-related conditions.

Mr Tinubu also inaugurated the Lagos Immunisation Supply Chain Hub at the Federal Medical Stores, Oshodi.

The facility is the first completed project under Nigeria’s new Three-Hub Immunisation Supply Chain Model.

Speaking during the virtual inauguration, Mr Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to quality healthcare delivery nationwide.

“We are determined to give Nigerians the kind of care that, for too long, only those who could travel abroad enjoyed.

“From the rivers of the Delta to the streets of Lagos, from rural Sokoto to tertiary Maiduguri, our emergency response system must work as one. Today, we put another major piece of that system in place,” the President said.

Mr Tinubu commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other stakeholders for delivering the projects.

He praised NEMSAS, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, development partners, state governments and federal teaching hospitals.

According to the ministry, nearly 3,000 primary healthcare centres have been revitalised under the IMPACT programme within two years.

The ministry added that 27 Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care sites had also been established nationwide.

It further said that 1,602 Level 1 and 1,360 Level 2 health facilities were revitalised nationwide.

The ministry said the revitalisation was carried out under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.

(NAN)