By Egena Sunday Ode
President Bola Tinubu has urged medical experts across West Africa to develop practical and sustainable solutions to the persistent migration of skilled healthcare professionals from the sub-region.
Tinubu made the call on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, shortly after receiving a Fellowship of the West African College of Physicians (WACP) in recognition of his administration’s efforts to reform Nigeria’s health sector.
The President urged the college’s leadership to use its forthcoming conference to address the challenge of medical brain drain, which he said continues to put pressure on healthcare systems and increase the workload of available medical personnel.
“We are more challenged in Africa than anywhere else,” Tinubu said, while calling for preventive measures to tackle emerging health threats and infectious diseases.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to implementing comprehensive health sector reforms aimed at making healthcare delivery more accessible, affordable and efficient for Nigerians.
The President also commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, for his role in driving the reforms.
Tinubu acknowledged the contributions of medical professionals to humanity through research, disease prevention, life-saving interventions and efforts to strengthen healthcare systems against existing and emerging health challenges.
The fellowship was conferred on him by the WACP Council.
Speaking at the event, the College President and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Dr Mamadou Mourtala Ka, said the fellowship was reserved for presidents who had made significant contributions to healthcare delivery and improved the health of people across West Africa.
“This award is given only to presidents who have made a mark in healthcare delivery and affected the health of the West African people,” Ka said.
The WACP Secretary-General and spokesperson for the delegation, Prof. Musa Dankyau, said the decision to honour Tinubu reflected the administration’s commitment to far-reaching health sector reforms.
Dankyau disclosed that the college had conferred the fellowship only eight times in its 50-year history, naming former Gambian President Dawda Jawara and former Nigerian Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who received the honour in 1991, among previous recipients.
He said the council recognised Tinubu’s administration for investments in health infrastructure, improved access to care, emergency services, primary healthcare and universal health coverage.
According to Dankyau, more than $2.2 billion had been invested in the relevant areas to improve healthcare for Nigerians.
He also cited progress in disease prevention, immunisation and public health preparedness, adding that Nigeria had expressed readiness to respond to potential Ebola threats.
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