Monarchs from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have converged on Bauchi State for the Quarterly Review Meeting of the Northern Traditional Leaders’ Committee on Primary Healthcare Delivery.
The meeting was aimed at reviewing the progress and proffering solution to the challenges in healthcare service delivery while working with critical stakeholders.
In his speech, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pateh said President Bola Tinubu is concerned about Nigerians’ plight and has directed all his aides to work towards alleviating their sufferings.
He said “Nigeria has been going through a very difficult time over the last one and a half. His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is very keenly aware. He feels, he cares and he understands the pains that Nigerians are going through.
“And his key message to all of us is to focus on what we do and how we can improve the circumstances of the people of this country. And that is an important mandate that we have had.
“But to do that, there needs to be perseverance, which we have, but we also have to work with community leaders and listen to communities and listen to you as leaders and respond to what we also garner from our engagements with you.
“To forge respective partnerships all across this country to really adjust, where we falter, we correct but at least, with a determined effort to uplift the standard of living of our people. That is what I know the president cares about and is working diligently with all members of his team to achieve. And you, Your Highnesses, are the trusted channels,” he said.
The minister said that with the reforms being carried out by the President, there has been an increase in allocation to states with the highest received by them within the last one month which he opined should be used to improve the living conditions of Nigerians by the governors.
He said: “Yes, there have been difficulties, but I am very pleased to say that we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel. After hardship, there is relief.
“And for the first time, if His Excellency (Bauchi State Governor) was here, I would have asked him to confirm if the allocations that were received by the states in the last one month, have ever been received.
“So, there is significant improvement but that is just a begining because the benefit of difficult reforms that have happened will take time before they accrue.
“But as those resources flow, then we need to focus on investing them on the people, on their health, on their education, on their nutrition. And to do that between the federal government, state governments and the local governments.
“It’s a fallacy to think that President Bola Ahmed Tinibu alone can solve Nigeria’s problems. He can solve by pointing the direction and taking his decisions, but all states, local governments and civic leaders, we all have to come together in order to manifest the country that we want to enjoy, and I think that is what we are committed to doing and we have been so in the health sector.
“And with the light that we see, at the end of the tunnel, if we persevere, if we are patient and remain steady, things will get better and I count on Your Highnesses to continue to pray for the success of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in doing the task that Nigerians have put on his shoulders for us to succeed together,” the Health Minister stated.
Governor Bala Mohammed, represented by the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Barrister Ibrahim Kashim, expressed confidence that resolutions of the meeting would facilitate effective healthcare service delivery across the region.
He said his administration is adhering to Abuja declaration of fifteen percent budgetary allocation to the health sector, acknowledged the role of traditional and religious leaders in actualizing the establishment of over three hundred primary healthcare centers across the state.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate who expressed the federal government’s readiness to consolidate provision of various health intervention initiatives to guarantee the well-being of citizens.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Muyi Aina stressed the importance of collective efforts in improving primary healthcare delivery.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar who is also the Patron of the Northern Traditional Leaders’ Committee on Primary Healthcare Delivery, commended the Federal and State Governments for their partnership with the committee in addressing challenges in the sector.
