President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday called for stronger preventive healthcare and improved preparedness against infectious diseases including Ebola.
He spoke at the State House Abuja after receiving the Fellowship of the West African College of Physicians (WACP) becoming the second Nigerian leader to receive the honour in the institution’s 50-year history.
The President urged medical professionals across West Africa to develop practical solutions to the migration of skilled healthcare workers warning that the exodus was increasing pressure on health systems and limiting access to essential services.
He said: ‘We are more challenged in Africa than anywhere else; you know and with the outbreak of Ebola now we’re looking for a preventive action that will eliminate all these problems and infections.’
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making healthcare more accessible affordable and efficient commending Pate for his leadership of the government’s health sector reforms.
WACP Secretary-General Prof. Musa Dankyau said the college recognised the President’s contributions to health infrastructure primary healthcare disease prevention and universal health coverage. He said more than $2.2 billion had been invested in the health sector.
The college which has conferred the fellowship eight times since its establishment also announced that its 50th anniversary celebration and annual scientific meeting would be held from October 26 to 28 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre Abuja.