The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has scored President Goodluck Jonathan high on his achievements in the health sector, stating that he has repositioned the sector, which has led to better healthcare service and increase in life expectancy.
The party spoke via a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, in Abuja and dated Sunday, January 11, 2015.
The party stated that in the last four years there has been aggressive restructuring of the health ministry and other health parastatals as well as massivere-equipping of federal medical institutions and teaching hospitals.
The statement read: “We recall that President Goodluck Jonathan had in 2010 launched the National Strategic Health Development Plan (2010-2015) which clearly spelt out government’s plans in that very important sector.
“Four years down the line, the project has been pursued with vigour and unquestionable commitment and the results are palpable.
“Using the Saving One Million Lives Initiatives and National Health Insurance Scheme, it is incontrovertible that in the last four years of Jonathan Presidency, Nigerians have more access to adequate and affordable health care, resulting in a record increase in life expectancy in the nation.
“Indeed, over a million lives have been saved directly under the Saving One Million Lives initiative by scaling up cost-effective interventions in maternal and child health care, nutrition, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, malaria control and eradication of polio.
“Today, maternal mortality has dropped by more than 50 per cent, following the provision of Midwives Service Scheme and the attendant facilities in our hospitals. The Nigerian child now receives free diabetes treatment in all public hospitals across the country also.
“Under the National Strategic Health Development Plan, new technologies in modern medical equipment are now available in most Federal medical institutions, positioning them to handle medical emergencies and disease control. Thus, cases such as kidney, heart and brain ailments as well as cancer are being effectively handled in Nigeria at present.
“After about 10 years, open-heart surgery has resumed in Nigerian hospitals. So far, more than 55 of such surgeries have been conducted in our hospitals in 2013 with University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan among others, as front runners.
“Microsurgery of the brain is also now being conducted at Federal medical Centre, Umuahia while laparoscopic surgery for fibroid cases has since commenced at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe. Also full laparoscopic services has commenced at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife.
“This is in addition to the establishment of Geriatric Units for the elderly in Federal Tertiary Hospitals while renal transplant is now handled in most teaching hospitals across the country.
“Following the reviving of investment in medical research which was neglected in the past, Nigeria has been able to record breakthrough in the management of sickle cell anemia with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital performing an infusion cell into sickle anemia patient in 2012.
“The National Orthopedic Hospitals in Enugu, Kano and Lagos as well as Federal Medical Centre, Yenegoa among others are now performing Total knee and hip replacement thereby giving lifeline to accident victims in the country. Great successes have been recorded with record high number of VVF repairs at the National Obstetric Fistula Centres using state of the art equipment.”
The statement also brought into cognisance the feat achieved by the current administration in controlling Ebola Virus Disease, a feat globally acknowledged as unprecedented, making the country a model for other countries.
The statement continued: “In the same vein, the country recorded another health milestone with the eradication of polio. Following our aggressive drive, no new case of the disease has been recorded in the last six months and this qualifies Nigeria to be declared polio-free this month in line with global requirements.
“Nigeria now has a Revised Curriculum for Undergraduate Medical and Dental Education as well as Curriculum on Herbal Medicine Development while a Committee on development of indigenous herbal products for promotion of exports has been established.
“To take the sector to the next level, the present administration has already inaugurated a Ministerial Committee to unlock the private sector potentials and pave the way for the establishment of world class specialist hospitals and high-end diagnostic centres in each of the six geo- political zones of the country.
“This is in line with the vision of the Jonathan administration to ensure that Nigerians have quicker access to specialized medical attention as contained in the manifesto of our great party,” the statement concluded.
