The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire and the Minister of Health, Germany, His Excellency, Jens Spahn, has explored possible areas of cooperation towards improving and strengthening the Nigerian health system. The Minister made this known while fielding questions from journalists after bilateral talks between the two Ministers in Abuja.
Speaking, Ehanire said the meeting highlighted Nigeria’s areas of need especially, as regards fighting and eradication of diseases like polio, public Health emergencies (patients’ transportation), knowledge sharing and training of Trainers.
The Minister noted that Nigeria is looking for areas of Technical Corporation from developed European countries, in the areas of medicine, oncology, surgery, especially, the practical side of surgery which could benefit the country through the involvement of Experts and possibly retired Doctors as volunteers from Europe to lead Nigerian Doctors to improve quality of service and strengthen the sector.
Dr. Ehanire stressed that, Technical cooperation and improvement are needed in order to boost service delivery and strengthen the Nigeria Health system adding that when experts in the health sector work effectively and efficiently, the sector would help to boost the Nigerian Economy.
He also disclosed the German Government’s desire to send experts to Nigeria to assist in scaling –up service delivery by committing funds into many areas of the Health system, Education, Agriculture, especially on vocational training to improve Small/Medium Enterprise to reduce migration between Nigeria and Europe.
Dr. Ehanire hinted that the knowledge, experience, and expertise from other developed countries like Germany could support Nigeria in E- health, mobile health, and means of transportation of the sick to hospitals, efficient and service delivery to enhance the health system in Nigeria.
Speaking on brain-drain in the sector, the Minister said that lack of opportunities is part of the driving forces. To this end, the Minister assured that the Federal Government is working assiduously towards arresting the situation by creating opportunities and improving the working environment of health workers.
The German Minister of Health, on his part informed that Nigeria and Germany already have a strong partnership, where eradication of Polio has been their priority. He stated that German has identified five (5) Hospitals in Nigeria that would be supported by German Ministry of Economic development as pilot scheme of the train the trainers’ concept towards better healthcare delivery.
He maintained that cooperation between the two countries and other member States of the African Union/European Union would continue so as to discover areas of benefits to member countries.
He therefore mentioned that the German Government is poised to commit about 30.5million Euros towards this endeavour, which include: research, disease prevention and control and improvement of the status of health care system in Nigeria.
Enefaa Bob-Manuel
Head Press and Public Relations
