Jumoke Olasunkanmi
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had pledged a 61 percent increase to the health sector in order to address the brain drain and improve health service in the country’s capital city.
The mandate secretary, health and human services secretariat of the FCTA, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, made this promise during the 2023 Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) Health Week in Abuja on Thursday, according to NAN.
She noted that the FCT’s N22.7 trillion budget will promote infrastructural development in the health sector, as well as provide improved welfare packages for doctors and healthcare workers.
“The budget is an increase over the last budget. We believe this will translate to a 61 percent increase in our health indices, better equipment in our hospitals and we will be able to employ more doctors.”
She added that the increased allocation will address the shortage of health workers that is a result of the mass migration of health workers from the country.
“For every doctor who leaves the system, we replace the person. As people leave, we also have people looking for jobs.
We hope the ‘Japa Syndrome’ will reduce with the improved budget; we also hope to see the right equipment and expansion of hospitals and better roll-call.
“For the FCT health insurance scheme, we have a plan for the vulnerable; it is for the poor who cannot afford healthcare. They are by law statutorily mandated to be taken care of once they are registered under the scheme.”
The recently presented 2024 budget showed a N1.33 trillion allocation to the health sector in addition to the N61.6 billion presented to the National Assembly by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
FCT senator, Ireti Kinigbe, represented by Dr. Juliet Essien also appealed to doctors and other health workers to stay in the country and help strengthen the health sector. She added that the government will continue to improve allocation to the health sector
“It is no secret that our healthcare is facing numerous challenges but we need to address issues such as brain drain, infrastructure, Accessiblity and we’ll being of healthcare professionals” she said.
Also, president of the ARD, FCTA Chapter, Dr. Rahman Olayinka explained that the health week will provide an opportunity for members of the association to share insights as well as draw attention to crucial matters that needs to be addressed.
