The minister, while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Monday, identified improvements that needed to be made in the health sector.
Pate emphasised the importance of recognising the efforts of individuals in the health sector, acknowledging their accomplishments despite facing numerous obstacles and operating with limited financial resources.
“Take insecurity for instance. There are many health workers who have been kidnapped in the course of doing their work in rural areas in different parts of the country, yet health workers have continued to work hard to deliver services.
“Now, are they perfect? No. Is there a scope for significant improvement? Yes. And that’s why we have articulated these four buckets of things that we will do,” he said.
The PUNCH reports in July that a medical doctor, Dr Asema Msuega, was abducted in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State while embarking on a malaria programme supervision at a primary health centre.
The PUNCH also reported in July that a medical practitioner with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Dr Ekanem Ephraim, was kidnapped from her residence by armed men who pretended to be patients.
Pate said he was committed to President Bola Tinubu’s vision to pursue the four-point agenda to improve the overall state of health in Nigeria.
He noted that one of the items bordered on improving the governance of the health sector.
“It’s not just the Federal Government that has the responsibility for the health of all Nigerians; all state governors and all local government authorities have to play their part; invest, ensure the services are delivered and the quality of service is good.
“It should include everyone, not only the public sector but also the private sector in the conversation, the civil actors to really speak and have a consensus in the country that we want to improve the health of Nigerians,” Pate said.
