By Emma Okereh
The Association ofGeneral and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) will on ThursdayAugust 12, 2021, honour some distinguished Nigerians who have contributedimmensely to the development of Nigeria’s health sector.
The Association in astatement at the weekend signed by Dr. Iyke Odo, the National President,explained that the event which will take place at the Africa Hall of the InternationalConference Centre (ICC) Abuja, promises to unveil an array of Nigerians whohave etched their names in gold through their worthy interventions in thehealth sector.
‘’The main focus ofthe centenary event, is to be part of the solution to Nigeria’s myriad of problemsin healthcare delivery. Close observersof the health sector in Nigeria will readily attest to the fact that healthcaredelivery is in dire stress. From the poor healthcare infrastructure toinadequate or total lack of critical equipment, the uninspiring conditions of work of themedical practitioners and other health workers, Nigeria’s health sectorcontinues to gasp for breathe’’, the national president lamented.
Dr. Odo explained thatas a way of giving back to the society, part of the event on that day will bethe official launch of a private healthcare intervention fund to support twocardinal national projects for Nigeria one of which is the ‘Save One MillionNigerian Mothers Initiative’ otherwiseknown as the “(Mobile Health Solution)”.
Among Nigeriansnominated for the award are notable personalities cutting across age as well aspolitical and social divides. Some of those to receive post humous awards,include, Professor Dora Akunyili, former Director-General of the NationalAgency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), for herrelentless fight against fake and unwholesome food and drugs, late Dr. StellaAdadevoh, for her supreme sacrifice in the fight against Ebola and ProfessorOlikoya Ramsom Kuti, for his works in the area of Primary Health Care in the country.
Former PresidentGoodluck Ebele Jonathan will also receive an award for his Servant-Leadershiproles in the fight against Ebola, under his watch as President.
This is just as Nigeria’sfootball icon, Kanu Nwankwo, got a nomination in another category for his selflessnessand laudable work with the Kanu Heart Foundation, through which a lot ofindigent children with heart conditions received free surgeries and othermedical interventions.
There is also, aformer First Lady, Mrs Maryam Abacha, who founded what is now referred to asthe National Hospital Abuja, through her pet project, the Family SupportProgramme Initiative. It was originally known as the National Hospital forWomen and Children.
Others include, ChiefAfe Babalola (SAN) foremost Jurist and Educationist, Chief Kessington Adebutu, renownedPhilanthropist whose interventions in health infrastructure are visible in manyUniversity Teaching Hospitals across the country.
Others include; Dr.Kayode Fayemi, Executive Governor, Ekiti State and Chairman, Nigeria GovernorsForum, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, former Executive Governor of Ondo state; Hon.Bashorun Askia Ogieh, MD/CEO DESOPADEC, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, who was PresidentJonathan’s Health Minister that led the fight against Ebola, Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, MD/CEO, JUHELPharmaceuticals Ltd; one of the Country’s leading indigenous drugmanufacturers, Florence Otedola, Founder, CUPPY Foundation for her amazinginterventions in the Save the Children NGO, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Founder,BUA Foundation, a notable donor in all spheres including the health sector, SirEmeka Offor, Founder, SEO Foundation known for their very huge financialinvestment in the national fight against POLIO, and Sir Dr. Daniel Chukwudozie,Philanthropist and another huge interventionist in the healthcare sector in hisnative Anambra State.
Other prominentawardees, in the political, corporate business and Non-Governmentalorganization communities, who have been listed for the great impacts they havemade overtime in the health sector include, Save The Children International, Nigeria;International Committee of the Red Cross; Society for Family Health and ClintonHealth Access Initiative (CHAI).
