Vice President Kashim Shettima has disclosed that increasing domestic health financing, industrialisation, and improved health outcomes, would be topmost on the agenda of the Tinubu government in the health sector.
Shettima, who stated this when playing host to a delegation from the Global Health Partners – the Global Fund, US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and the US President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) at the State House, Abuja, restated the commitment of the present administration to repositioning Nigeria’s healthcare system
He pledged the President’s political support to, “improve health outcomes for all Nigerians; increased domestic financing for health; and promoting health industrialisation.”
According to him, “these are three major commitments I am making on behalf of my boss and be rest assured that our word is our bond.
“I want to assure you that we are determined to catapult the nation to a higher pedestal. We are committed to changing the narrative of inclusive growth, of a Nigeria where every black man will be proud of.
“President Tinubu is a man of vision, and he has the courage to follow through whatever he believes in, from the appointment of the Minister of Health, there is a clear testimony to the drive, the political commitment of the President and the current leadership towards repositioning the Nigerian nation.
“The Minister of Health is a man of impeccable credentials. He is a celebrated public health practitioner with the experience, exposure, and commitment to drive the change we seek in the health sector.”
The vice president urged the Global Health Partners and other stakeholders in the health sector to support the new leadership in the Health Ministry to actualise the president’s vision for all Nigerians.
Earlier in his remarks, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, said the visit of the global health partners was to take stock of the progress made so far and reassured the Tinubu-led administration of their commitment to the efforts to combat HIV AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, among others.
Also speaking, the US Global AIDS Coordinator, Amb. John Nkengasong, said the visit which coincided with the commemoration of the US Government’s 20 years of support to Nigeria’s fight against HIV AIDS through the PEPFAR initiative, provided an opportunity for the partners to appreciate the vision and direction of the Tinubu administration for the health sector.
He commended the administration, noting that the Health Minister’s clarity of vision and commitment to building an inclusive health system for the country, would help the partners align their goals and targets in the various interventions.
In separate remarks, Mr. Peter Sands of the Global Fund and David Walton of the President’s Malaria Initiative, commended the Federal Government for its efforts towards combating Malaria, HIV AIDS and Tuberculosis and urged all stakeholders to sustain the momentum especially in the bid to achieve the 2030 target of eradicating HIV AIDS in Nigeria.
All the partners at the meeting pledged their support and commitment to work with the Tinubu’s administration to deliver on its mandate and vision for the health sector.Deji Elumoye and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
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