In a remarkable move, President Bola Tinubu has authorised the immediate enhancement of crucial healthcare infrastructure and equipment across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones. Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity revealed this in a press statement. The development is in line with this administration’s vision of overhauling the health and social welfare sector for enhanced service delivery to all Nigerians.
Under President Tinubu’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in collaboration with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), will undertake a comprehensive upgrade of cancer treatment infrastructure and other essential developments in six tertiary hospitals across various geopolitical zones. This effort also includes extensive renovations and expansions of existing facilities to ensure widespread access to high-quality healthcare across the nation.
President Tinubu’s plan to enhance top-notch cancer diagnosis and care available nationwide includes establishing oncology and nuclear medicine centres at specific teaching hospitals across the country. These hospitals are:
- University of Benin Teaching Hospital
- Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital
- University of Nigeria (Nsukka) Teaching Hospital
- Federal Teaching Hospital, Katsina
- University of Jos Teaching Hospital
- Lagos University Teaching Hospital
The expansion of critical healthcare services will also take place across ten hospitals nationwide, covering various fields including radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology, and cardiac catheterization. Here are the designated hospitals according to their respective geo-political zones:
- North-West: Reference Hospital, Kaduna — Offering services in radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology.
- South-East: Medical Diagnostic Centre Complex, Enugu — Providing services in radiology, clinical pathology, medical and radiation oncology.
- North-West: Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto — Specializing in diagnostic and intervention radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterisation.
- South-West: University College Hospital, Ibadan — Offering diagnostic and intervention radiology, clinical pathology, and cardiac catheterization services.
- South-South: University of Uyo Teaching Hospital — Providing services in radiology and clinical pathology.
- North-East: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi — Specialising in radiology and clinical pathology.
- South-South: Federal Medical Centre, Asaba — Offering services in radiology and clinical pathology.
- North-Central: Harmony Advanced Diagnostic Centre Complex, Ilorin — Providing services in radiology and clinical pathology.
- North-Central: Jos University Teaching Hospital — Offering services in radiology and clinical pathology.
- North-East: Federal Medical Centre, Nguru — Specialising in radiology and clinical pathology.
Ngelale emphasised the transformative impact of these projects, stating that they are poised to enhance screening and diagnostics for both communicable and non-communicable diseases, reduce mortality rates, improve outcomes for non-communicable diseases, and generate significant employment opportunities across Nigeria.
