President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday inaugurated the first National Trauma Centre in Abuja, with a call on Nigerians to avoid panic and remain alert to check further spread of the Ebola virus in the country.
Inaugurating the centre at the National Hospital, Abuja, the President, who was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, expressed regret that the emergence of the disease in Nigeria was due to migration.
He, therefore, enjoined all Nigerians to take precautionary measures against the disease, saying that the government had put in place measures and facilities for detection and management of the disease.
“It will also be appropriate, at this time, to say a few words about the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, which has taken the lives of many in some West African countries and of which we have recorded two deaths here in Nigeria.
“It is regrettable that the emergence of the disease on our shores was due to migration and transmission.
“It is important that we avoid panic and take the highest possible care in hygiene and contact, and by adhering to guidelines issued by the Federal Ministry of Health.
“We have put measures and facilities in place for detection and management and are working in concert with the international community to stem its spread. We must remain at high alert”.
Jonathan said that the provision of the Trauma Centre was in fulfillment of the cardinal objective of the ongoing transformation agenda of his administration, as prioritised in the National Strategic Health Development Plan.
According to him, the Federal Government was modernising medical diagnostics as well as upgrading several tertiary healthcare facilities to meet international standards.
“We have also progressively improved healthcare financing and priority interventions.
“We are determined to realise our transformational goals in the health sector by adequately funding the sector both in the provision of infrastructure, as exemplified by the construction of this Trauma Centre, as well as ensuring a conducive environment for the workforce.
“Let me also, emphasise that a Trauma Centre functions optimally when its component units work together.
“As health personnel, you are all integral to the delivery of the comprehensive care that would be needed by distressed patients”, he said.
President Jonathan said that his administration was fully committed to delivering equitable and quality healthcare service to the citizens.
He said that the government would continue to motivate existing local health manpower and encourage Nigerian health experts based abroad to return to the country to reduce the depletion of the country’s foreign exchange due to the search for medical attention abroad.
The Nigerian leader added that in the past three years, the nation’s healthcare system had witnessed major improvements.
“We have invested heavily in strengthening human resources by scaling up the Midwives Service Scheme (MSS), providing additional health facilities and instituting the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) component of SURE-P.
“To meet our goal of raising Health Insurance Coverage to 30 percent by the end of 2015, we launched the community-based social health insurance scheme to complement the formal sector scheme.
“The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has recently developed Mobile Health Insurance Programme to facilitate mass access to health insurance.
”This innovative programme, which leverages the potential of information technology, is expected to be launched before the end of this year.
“The ultimate aim will be to achieve Universal Health Coverage, a journey that we have decided to embark on following the successful Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage in March this year”.
In his remark, the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said the centre was one of many projects contained in the Federal Government’s strategic plan aimed at providing efficient, cost healthcare services to Nigerians.
He said the centre would handle all forms of trauma ‘‘whether from falls, fires, accidents, natural or man-made disasters, including terrorist activities’’.
Speaking earlier, Chairman of the National Hospital Board, Dr. Tony Okam, while thanking the President for his support to the hospital, disclosed that the centre was the first of its kind in the country.
According to him, the centre is a hospital within a hospital, with state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, a well trained personnel and a helipad.
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