The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, says the National Assembly will ensure that every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare.
Mr Akpabio stated this at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The public hearing include: “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Toro, Bauchi State (Amendment), Bill, 2024 and National Eye Centre Doma, Nasarawa State (Establishment) Bill, 2024”.
Mr Akpabio, who was represented by Sen. Osita Ngwu, while declaring the event open, said that lawmakers must ensure every Nigerian has access to the care he or she needed.
“We must ensure that every Nigerian has access to the care he needs, when he needs it.
“By supporting these bills, we are fulfilling our constitutional mandate and demonstrating our dedication to the health and welfare of our people.
“By this public hearing, I’m reminded of our immense responsibility as lawmakers to shape the future of healthcare in Nigeria.
“The bills before us are not just pieces of legislation rather, they are the building blocks upon which we will build a stronger, more resilient healthcare sector that can meet the needs of our people.
“These bills sponsored by distinguished colleagues of this senate, is a testament of their foresight, passion and unwavering commitment to the well-being of our citizens,” Akpabio said.
According to him, in a country where access to quality healthcare remained a challenge for many, establishing specialised institutions such as orthopaedic hospitals and eye treatment centres was not just a necessity but a moral imperative.
Mr Akpabio also said that the state of the health infrastructure in Nigeria was a matter of grave concern, adding that we lag behind other developing nations in terms of modern medical facilities and resource.
“This is a stark reality and we cannot afford to ignore it. The introduction of legislation to develop and manage our health care infrastructure is a crucial step toward bridging this gap and bringing our health care systems into the 21st century.”
Sen. Shehu Buba (APC-Bauchi) sponsored a bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Toro, Bauchi State.
Mr Buba said that the hospital when established would proffer comprehensive orthopaedic care for joint replacement, fracture and arthritis which essentially, was what the people of the north-eastern part of the country lacked, particularly Bauchi State.
“It will also bring health care closer to the people at a reduced cost compared to private hospitals and will equally drastically reduce health tourism to other countries.
“It will stimulate economic growth, foster inter-regional integration and create job opportunities.
“It will also deter patients from patronising traditional bone setters, who enjoy patronage in the absence of specialised orthopaedic hospital,” he said.
