Tunji Alausa Highlights Commitment To Healthcare Advancements

Alausa says President Tinubu is committed to the development of healthcare system.

Alausa Inaugurates National Health Research Committee to foresee the improvement in medical research in Nigeria

Alausa pledges increased enrollment of nurses nationwide before the year ends

Eko Hot Blog reports that in a recent event at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Yaba, Lagos, the Minister of State Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to establishing a robust and sustainable healthcare system in Nigeria.

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The occasion marked the inauguration of the National Health Research Committee on Thursday, January 4, 2023.

Director General of NIMR Prof Babatunde Salako, Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of State Health, Prof. Olufunmilayo Olopade, committee’s chairman

Dr. Alausa emphasized the significance of the committee, comprising accomplished Nigerians excelling in various healthcare and academic fields across the country.

He said, “This committee has been carefully assembled to include very successful Nigerians that have excelled in all area of healthcare and in academic across the country.

“We have the talent. So we’ve spoken to them and they’ve graciously agreed to come back to continue what they do the most, what they enjoy to do to serve our country, to serve the president of Nigeria and the entire humanity.

“So now this is a different era, it’s a different time. This this committee will be well funded to provide the needed support as a as a huge enabler to drive our healthcare delivery system.”

Minister of State Health and Social Welfare health, Dr Tunji Alausa

He highlighted the President’s commitment to fostering durable and comprehensive healthcare that serves every Nigerian citizen effectively.

Addressing the critical role of research and innovation, Dr. Alausa stressed, “Without robust research and innovation, we can’t have a robust healthcare delivery system. The President of the country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mentioned that his commitment to Healthcare is second to none.

“He wants a durable, sustainable healthcare system that will serve every single, every citizen of Nigeria in a meaningful and comprehensive way. And with this Health Research Committee that’s been done, that has been agreed today they will help to help with Innovation and improvement in the healthcare delivery system in the country.”

Furthermore, the Minister emphasized the integration of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in the recently inaugurated National Exercise Committee and he outlined four pillars guiding the Ministry’s goals, stating,
“Using technology, particularly artificial intelligence, is a key aspect of the recently inaugurated National Exercise Committee. The committee’s carefully selected members include individuals who have excelled significantly in their respective fields, all aimed at leveraging technology for national development. As the Minister of Health, our goals for the country revolve around four pillars: enhancing governance; improving healthcare; optimizing the value chain; expanding health services beyond physical security for enhanced Social Security and national security.”

“Digitalization, primarily through the national digitalization platform, is a significant component of our strategy. The implementation of telemedicine, coupled with artificial intelligence, is already underway, and we plan to further utilize these technologies to enhance and coordinate healthcare delivery for millions of our citizens.”

In addition, Dr. Alausa highlighted the rapid expansion of healthcare professionals, particularly in nursing, stating, “With a focus on human resources for health, we are rapidly expanding the number of healthcare professionals. Starting from the next academic session, we will be offering every medical specialty. We have successfully admitted students into various specialties, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, medical library science, occupational medicine, and nursing.”

“Notably, our efforts in nursing education have seen substantial growth. When we assumed office, the enrollment for nursing stood at approximately 28,000. Presently, we have significantly increased this number to around 66,000 across nursing institutions nationwide. By the end of this year, we aim to surpass 120,000 enrollments in various nursing schools across the country.”