By Hassan Zaggi
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has said that he is ready to work with agencies and other critical stakeholders in order to shape the direction of the health sector.
Speaking at a reception ceremony held at the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Health after the formal inauguration of ministers by the President, Pate said he is prepared to work with all actors including parastatals, hospitals, states and private sector in order to improve the standard of healthcare and halt oversea medical tourism.
The Minister also pledged his commitment to ensuring effective implementation of policies that would enhance the standard of the health sector and improve the lives of Nigerians.
“I will work with my brother, the Minister of State and everybody to actualize the vision and mandate of President Bola Tinubu.
“The President considers the people as the bases and foundational element of his administration”.
Prof. Pate also vowed that: “My tenure will enhance the welfare, health and well-being of the people since they are inter-connected right from gestation to early childhood to adulthood and to the elderly all across life circle”.
He assured that the duties and obligations of the Health Ministry in the area of stabilizing, reducing pain, whether physical pain or financial protection would be addressed so that people will actually begin to feel the impact of the administration on their lives.
On his part, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, commended the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Health for the warm reception, asserting that health care covers not only hospitals but physical health, social security, national security and others.
He noted that Nigerians deserve basic comprehensive internationally acceptable healthcare services, promising that they are determined to achieve this feat to improve the lives of all Nigerians.
He opined that the President has been very deliberate in the way and manner he selected his cabinet members for the betterment of the lives of Nigerians regardless of their status.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom,assured the Ministers that the Staff of the Ministry are determined to give their unalloyed support to ensure they succeed.
While highlighting the mandate, mission and vision obligations of the Ministry, she promised that “we will provide expertise in the administrative standard that will move the health sector forward”.
