Health Minister unveils new healthcare facilities in Bayelsa

The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, has expressed confidence that Nigeria will overcome United States President Donald Trump’s new sweeping health policy changes, particularly the halt to funding of health care interventions in developing countries.

Professor Pate stated this in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital while inaugurating the Bayelsa State Haemodialysis Centre and the General Outpatient Centre at the Bayelsa Medical University as part of weeklong activities to mark Governor Douye Diri’s five years in office.

The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare said all tiers of government needed to work in synergy to harness the country’s resources to provide for the health needs of citizens.

While giving a thumbs up to Governor Douye Diri for establishing the Haemodialysis Centre in the state, Professor Ali Pate said the President had issued directives to develop a Medical Relief Programme to provide support to the people to reduce the cost of access to health care.

“As you are all aware, President Tinubu signed a contract with all the 36 state governments and FCT that we should join hands and transform Nigeria’s health sector to serve the Nigerian people.

“The President asked us to develop a Medical Relief Programme so that we can provide support to the people to reduce the cost of access to health care. Some challenges have emerged in the last three weeks on health, which is the US government policy changes, but as a country, there is nothing we cannot overcome.”

He emphasised that the Federal government was revitalising many primary healthcare centres across the country, with over two thousand such facilities in different stages of being revamped.

“The federal and state governments will work together to mitigate some of those challenges because even those who have HIV and kidney disease can come here and get treated without having to depend on someone from very far away land to come and support them.”

Earlier, Governor Douye Diri said he was motivated to establish the medical facility when he became governor following the death of his mother from renal failure complications in 2013.

Governor Diri paid glowing tributes to the first civilian Governor of Bayelsa State, Late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, for initiating the 500-bed hospital two decades ago and his predecessor, Senator Seriake Dickson for converting part of the facility into a medical university.

He further directed the Commissioner for Health, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, and the Vice Chancellor of the Bayelsa Medical University, BMU, Professor Dimie Ogoina, to ensure that the hospital was fully functional in six months.

While describing the state as a tropical area and one of the most infested by Malaria, Governor Diri expressed appreciation to Professor Pate for approving Bayelsa State as one of the first states in the federation to have the malaria vaccines.

The Minister also inaugurated the Zipline Drone Flight Services for the distribution of medical supplies and consumables, as well as the 800-meter concrete access road to the Facility.

Ifeoma Nwovu