FG Reiterates Commitment to Improved Healthcare Delivery

• MRTB pushes for establishment of national rehabilitation centre

Ugo Aliogo, Omotayi Ajayi and Afolabi Lawal

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has reiterated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to improve healthcare delivery in the country, while expressing desire to support the Medical Rehabilitation Therapist Board of Nigeria (MRTB) in its efforts at addressing rehabilitation challenges in the country.

He disclosed this recently in Lagos at the International Conference for Medical Rehabilitation Professionals Board of Nigeria (MRTB) with the theme: ‘Medical Rehabilitation in Community and Primary Health Care in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa’.

Adewole, who represented by the Minister for State for Health, Osagie Ehanire, said the present administration places high priority in growing human resources in all areas especially the health sector, adding that the backbone of the administration policy is the renovation and equipping of 10,000 primary healthcare centres across the country.

He noted that the drive of the administration is to strengthen its health systems and rapidly increase the number of communities in which citizen can enjoy high quality health services.
The minister explained that the MRTB’s input in line with policy regulations and individual mentoring is vital.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of MRTB, Olufunke Akanle, said in 2015, the board organised a policy development technical working group on the formulation of a disability policy and bill for its inclusion in the national health policy.

She added that a fraction of that policy appeared in the National Health Policy, and their desire is that a Bill of Disability Concerns would have exhaustive pages wholly addressing matters concerning persons living with disabilities and their access to health.

Akanle explained that through the conference they have been able to push for the establishment of National Rehabilitation Centres across the country, adding that ideas have been properly outlined and an architectural structure presentation on the proposed national rehabilitation centres was delivered in the course of the conference.

Continuing, Adewole added: “The National Health Act which was signed into Law in 2014 provides for citizens to have access to basic healthcare package. This should in time come with innovative ideas of MRTB. It should also include access to medical rehabilitation services in rural areas. All profession groups are very important to many medical and surgical interventions.

There should be attention paid to data collation for persons living with disabilities and related services to aid in research. The federal government will continue to provide the enabling environment to support the board.”