'We want to end strike in health sector,' minister of state says

Dr Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of State, Health, has urged Federal health institutions to evolve innovations that will boost their service delivery.

Ehanire gave the advice in Kaduna on Saturday when he inspected facilities of some Federal health institutions in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among Federal health institutions visited by the Minister were the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, National Eye Centre and the Ear Care Centre.

He said the visit was a fact finding mission cum facility tour to ascertain their state of functionality.

The Minister commended staff for their innovations in keeping the facilities functional through their productivity.

`` I want to congratulate you for the achievement made by you, you have been able to add value to these hospitals and you have shown good innovation.

`` I urge you not to stop because we scientists believe in innovation and we are taking note of your challenges, ``he said.

``We want to end strike actions by health workers who made it difficult for patients to survive when they go on strike.

``The masses suffer when they go on strike and this is not what we should be doing now because strike is not the best.

The minister also stressed the need for transparency and accountability in government’s health institutions.

“The Federal Ministry of Health has been working hard to expand the Primary Health Centres in the country.

``We are working hard to expand the primary health centres in the country and when it is completed it is going to be 10,000 health centres in all the wards of the federation.

``Then we will find the pattern that will be able to help them stand on their own.

``I am not making any promise but we have marked your needs so lower your expectations until we are able to fix things,” he said.

Dr Taiwo Lateef-Sheikh, Medical Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Barnawa, told the Minister that the hospital had been transformed into an international renowned institution in quality service delivery, training of mental health professionals and research in mental health.

`` With the infrastructural development, availability of basic necessities for delivery of quality and job satisfaction, the hospital has no doubt found a place among mental health institutions of high class in Nigeria and West African region,`` he said.

He said the institution had been represented in many international mental health meetings and conferences including the congress of World Psychiatric Association as presenters of quality research work.

He, however, said the hospital was faced with financial constraints arising from low over head subvention, low revenue generating capacity and abandonment of patients to the hospital.

He said the hospital needed funds to complete ongoing projects and shore up its staff strength.

`` Our Radio-Imaging department, especially Computerised Thomographic Brain and Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines, need to be developed.

``And because of the need for middle cadre mental health power, there is need to upgrade and affiliate the school of Post Basic Psychiatric Nursing into a degree awarding school`` he said.