The Federal Government has launched the Health Power Initiative to improve electricity supply in healthcare facilities and strengthen service delivery across the country.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq-Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Thursday at the 11th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Intensive and Critical Care Society of Nigeria (I-CCSN) in Abuja.
The conference, supported by the World Federation of Intensive and Critical Care, is themed “Sustainable Financing for Intensive Care Units in Public Health Facilities.”
Other sessions focus on data management in critical care, sepsis management in Nigeria and mechanical ventilation in low-resource settings.
Salako said the initiative was designed to address persistent electricity shortages that have continued to affect healthcare delivery and the operation of critical medical equipment in hospitals.
He expressed confidence that improved power supply would enhance patient safety, boost the quality of healthcare services and improve the efficiency of health facilities nationwide.
The minister also highlighted other recent government interventions aimed at strengthening emergency healthcare services.
According to him, the Federal Government has deployed 145 tricycle ambulances, six boat ambulances and additional equipment to support the National Emergency Medical Service.
He described the interventions as important milestones in improving maternal healthcare, adding that building a sustainable health system would require continuous investment, expansion of healthcare infrastructure and increased fellowship opportunities.
Earlier, the Chief Medical Director of Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, Abuja, Dr Olalekan Olatise, called on the Federal Government to introduce tax incentives for investors in the health sector.
Olatise said tax waivers would encourage greater private sector participation and accelerate investment in healthcare infrastructure.
He also urged the government to urgently address electricity challenges, noting that unreliable power supply continues to hamper healthcare delivery across the country.
According to him, intensive care equipment is expensive, while many hospitals still struggle with shortages of essential consumables.
“Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, Abuja, is taking steps to establish a 10-bed Intensive Care Unit in the hospital.
“In the past, it was difficult to access foreign exchange for investments in the country, but the Ministry of Health is gradually making the process easier for us,” he said.
Olatise added that the Intensive and Critical Care Society of Nigeria has grown significantly over the years and continues to contribute to improving critical care services and healthcare delivery nationwide.
Source: NAN
