The Federal Government says it has recruited more than 30,000 healthcare professionals into federal health institutions in the last two and a half years as part of efforts to strengthen the health sector and address the exodus of medical personnel.
President Bola Tinubu disclosed this in a statement at the opening of the 50th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the West African College of Physicians (WACP) in Abuja on Monday.
Tinubu, who was represented at the event by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said his administration had made the recruitment, retention, training and welfare of health workers a top priority, noting that a health system is only as strong as its workforce.
According to the President, the government has also doubled admission quotas for medical education and supported the training of tens of thousands of frontline health workers to expand access to quality care nationwide.
He said the administration is investing in postgraduate medical education, specialist health institutions and digital health solutions to improve patient records management, disease surveillance and data-driven planning.
Tinubu explained that the recruitment drive is part of a broader reform package that includes the construction and rehabilitation of health facilities, revitalisation of primary healthcare centres, increased funding through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, and expansion of health insurance coverage to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure.
On the continued migration of health workers, the President said the government would intensify measures to stem the trend and create conditions that encourage Nigerian health professionals abroad to return home.
He also called for stronger regional collaboration among the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union and the WACP to tackle infectious disease outbreaks, including Ebola, through joint surveillance and emergency preparedness.
