The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Abdullazizi Mashi Abdullahi has received the Outline Business Case Certificate of Compliance for the Rehabilitation, Equipment Supply and Management of Federal Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria.
Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary said that it was in realization of the impact of the on-going  modernization and upgrading of Federal Teaching Hospitals in the country on health care delivery  that the Federal Government felt that the project  be extended to a third phase.
The Permanent Secretary noted that the project is a milestone achievement for the Ministry and in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s passion for human capacity development.
He also commended the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) for lending support to Mr. President’s effort in reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria assuring that the Ministry would take necessary actions to ensure the actualization of the project.
The Permanent Secretary also commended the Chairman of CPL Medical Group LTD, Prince, Albert Awofisayo, for his effort in improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Going down memory lane, the Director General, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr. Chidi Izuwah said that the project was necessitated by the dilapidated state of the Federal Teaching Hospitals in the country. The Federal Government being mindful of the this, therefore embarked on the modernisation and upgrading of 14 Teaching Hospitals in two phases.
Dr. Izuwah further explained that the contracts for rehabilitation, refurbishment, upgrading and equipment modernisation and standardisation of the Teaching Hospitals were awarded to CPL Medical Group and its technical partner, VAMED Engineering in 2003.
Considering the magnitude of funds required and the paucity of funds at Government disposal, a proposal was approved by the Presidency and forwarded to ICRC with a directive that the third phase of the project be implemented on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis in order to ensure it sustainability.
He maintained that the project would offer numerous benefits which include creating direct and indirect employment for Nigerians; reducing medical tourism and conserve foreign exchange, improve access to health care and also build capacity in the Teaching Hospitals through periodic trainings for medical and auxiliary staff.
According to the DG, the project will be 100% financed by the Private sector, the medical service operations and delivery would still reside with the hospital consultants, Nurses, midwives and technicians.
‘’These category of staff, would be trained on the use of the new equipment supplied, meaning that, there would be no loss of jobs,’’ the DG added.
Also speaking, the Director, Public Private Partnership and Diaspora Unit, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Omobolanle Olowu, congratulated the ICRC for the achievement despite numerous challenges.
Ogundoro Modupe(Mrs)
DD/Media and Public Relations
20/8/2019.
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