Osotimehin urges unity in health institutions

Chairmen and members of the newly inaugurated boards of federal tertiary health institutions, regulatory bodies and agencies, have been charged to establish cordial relationship with the executives of their various parastatals.

The Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, while inaugurating the boards in Abuja recently, said this would help a lot in good health care delivery services in the country.

Professor Osotimehin urged them to add value to their various institutions and ensure that every personnel were alive to their responsibilities so as to compliment government’s efforts at improving the health sector.

The minister who frowned at the lackadaisical attitude of many health personnel, said “the professionals should do what they are expected to do and be rewarded”, adding that the government would not relent in providing quality health care services to Nigerians.

“We have a Health Bill that will make a difference, because 80 per cent of people need primary health care and not the Teaching Hospitals. Without healthy population, the economy cannot move forward and this is part of the Seven-Point Agenda of the President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s administration”, he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo- Bello described the nation’s health system as terrible, but assured that the National Assembly would not relent in its support for all relevant stakeholders in the health sector.

While advocating more funds for the health sector, she expressed optimism that the Health Bill, when signed into law, would definitely make the difference in the health sector.

Earlier in an opening remark, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Aliyu Idi Hong, had lamented the dwindling resources of the health sector despite the increasing demands and , therefore, charged the new boards to give priority to Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) for optimal performances.

Dr. Hong who reminded the boards’ chairmen and members of government’s zero tolerance for corruption, warned them against fraudulent practices, adding that they should make transparency and accountability their watchword.

He also stressed the need to correct the alleged immoral behaviours among the health personnel whom he advised should imbibe attitudinal change towards their jobs.