The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Chief Medical Director of Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), Prof. Robinson Onoh, have urged private sector stakeholders to collaborate with the government in enhancing healthcare access for rural communities.
Their appeal was made during the inauguration of the Amaewula Cottage Hospital, an annex of AE-FUTHA, built and handed over by the Institute of Genomics and Global Health (IGH).
Speaking at the event, the Health Minister, represented by Nigeria’s Chief Epidemiologist, Dr. Ganiyu Jamiu, emphasized the government’s commitment to fostering public-private partnerships to improve healthcare services, particularly at the grassroots level.
He encouraged more organizations to invest in rural healthcare infrastructure, stressing that such efforts would help reduce mortality rates caused by limited access to medical facilities.
In his remarks, Prof. Onoh commended IGH for its initiative, describing the project as a significant step towards bridging healthcare gaps in underserved areas. He called on other private entities to follow suit, emphasizing the need for well-equipped healthcare centers in rural communities.
Prof. Christian Happi, the founder of IGH, explained that the decision to establish the hospital stemmed from the community’s lack of clean water, sanitation, and healthcare services. He expressed hope that the facility, equipped with modern medical tools and accommodations for healthcare workers, would set a new standard for rural healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
