Chairman of the House Committee on Health Institutions, Dr. Paschal Chigozie Obi, has lauded the efforts of the people of Hong for their commitment to achieving a modern healthcare facility that will address the healthcare needs of the people of Adamawa State and parts of their neighbouring State of Borno.
According to a statement signed and released by Nkem Anyata-Lafia
Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Rt.Hon.Buba.
May 6,2021 to the journalists
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Dr. Obi who made the above observation, Wednesday during the Public Hearing organised by the Committee on the Bill for an Act to establish the Federal Medical Centre, Hong, Adamawa State; and for other related matters.
He assured stakeholders from the area that their quest for a change of status for the already upgraded General Hospital, Hong, had received the support of the House of Representatives through the Committee.
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In the words of the Imo State- born lawmaker and physician, said the proposed Federal Medical Centre in Hong already possessed all that was needed for it to assume a new status.
As one knowledgeable in this matter, i can confidently tell you that what we have seen in place through the video presentation on that hospital, it can favourably compete with any tertiary health facility in this country.
The kind of equipment is like state-of- the- art. Our concern here is that the people of Hong and their public- sector collaborators have done our nation proud by what they have been able to achieve in that hospital…they have taken it to a level that the Honourable House cannot but support the facility to become a Federal Medical Centre” Hon Dr Obi concluded
Earlier speaking,the Member representing Gombi/Hong Federal Constituency and sponsor of the Bill,Rt. Hon.( Dr.) Yusuf Buba Yakub drew the attention of the audience to a recent World Health Organisation Report that ranked Nigeria 187th out of 191 countries in respect to efforts being made at bridging the gaps that exist in the healthcare needs among countries of the globe.
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Buba who lampooned the paltry sum the nation sets aside as budget for health each year, emphasised that he became an advocate of radical investment in Health sector after reading the said Report and that only a radical investment in the sector would turn things around.
The Adamawa-born lawmaker who is ,also, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of reps however expressed surprise that, as damning as the Report was, Nigeria’s Ministry of Health was still stuck to an old policy of one Federal Medical Centre per State; a policy, he said was probably,made in the 60s at a time the nation’s population might just be less than 60 million people.
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He advocated the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in each of the 774 Council Areas of the country, arguing that,but for the deep-seated corruption that has become endemic across all facets of our national life and systems, Nigeria had both the needed resources and thousands of healthcare professionals.
Among those who made presentations at the event in support of the proposed Federal Medical Centre, Hong were a former Military Governor of old Plateau State, Gen. Aliyu Kama rtd and Dr. Maksha. Others present also include: Arc. Bana, Dr.Dunah, Barr. Alheri as well as Party leaders, traditional rulers, members of Captain Buba Campaign Organisation as well as serving and past Local Council Chairmen, among whom were Hon. Ibrahim Gayus Buba,bJames Pukuma and many others
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Among traditional rulers present were the following:
Alh.Yahaya Umar Mohammed,D istrict Head of Uba; Chief Simon Buba, District Head of Dugwaba;
Alh.Mahmood Babangida, District Head of Hong and Alh. Maman Daksiri, District Head of Pela.
The Minister of Health was represented by the Director, Hospital Services, Dr.Ogunbiyi who gave the perspective of the Ministry on the establishment of further health Agencies across the land.
She was accompanied by two other officers from the Ministry. There were also representatives of the Minister of Labour and Employment and those who represented the Ministry of Information and Culture, among many others.
Except of Prof. Ladi Hammalai who recommended Mubi for the siting of the proposed Federal Medical Centre, everyone who spoke was for Hong.
