FG Partners Private Institutions to Address Healthcare Workforce Shortage

To address the shortage of healthcare workers in Nigeria, the Federal Government has formed a strategic alliance with four private institutions aimed at improving training capabilities.

This initiative, facilitated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Hospital, Abuja, aims to bolster the country’s medical workforce amid an ongoing exodus of health professionals.

The private institutions involved include Nile University, Cosmopolitan University, Yangongwo College of Nursing Sciences, and Concerned Medix Foundation.

The agreement was announced in a statement issued on Friday by  Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations Alaba Balogun, at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Speaking on the development, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, emphasized that the government is taking a proactive approach to fill the gap left by emigrating health workers.

“Unfortunately, that has implications on service delivery at home. So, as a government, we took a progressive stance to say, let’s train more,” Pate explained. “Even if those who are trained leave, some will stay, and even those who have gone away might come back to serve.”

He emphasized the importance of engaging the private sector to realize the government’s vision for a better healthcare system.

“The private sector has a role to play, and I’m glad that you’ve collaborated with the National Hospital to explore how the hospital’s resources can contribute to training more clinicians,” he stated.

Prof. Raji Mahmud, the Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital in Abuja, commended the initiative as a vital advancement for enhancing medical education and fortifying Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Mahmud pointed out that three of the four organizations part of the partnership mainly focus on training medical students and nurses. “This collaboration will greatly enhance the training of healthcare professionals and help maintain high medical standards.”