Abuja: The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a series of significant health initiatives amounting to approximately N93.9 billion to enhance healthcare delivery, disease control, and emergency medical services across Nigeria. This development was disclosed by Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, during a briefing with State House correspondents following the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, one of the key approvals by FEC is the transformation of the Kaltungo Snakebite Treatment Centre into the National Snakebite Research and Medical Centre. This centre is expected to offer specialised treatment, research, training, and sustained access to quality antivenom, addressing the significant public health challenge posed by snakebites in Nigeria, particularly affecting farmers, herders, hunters, women, and children. Nigeria experiences over 43,000 snakebite cases annually, leading to deaths, disabilities, and severe socio-economic impacts.
Additionally, the FEC sanctioned the procurement of 10 compressed natural gas-powered blood donation mobile clinics for the National Blood Service Agency, a project valued at around N6.9 billion. This initiative aims to enhance blood collection, storage, and distribution nationwide, addressing the current shortfall as the country collects only 25 to 30 percent of the required 1.8 million units of blood annually. These mobile clinics are expected to aid maternal healthcare, trauma management, surgeries, and cancer treatment across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
A further approval of N62 billion was made for procuring tuberculosis commodities, aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to its high tuberculosis burden. The government’s investment in these commodities is set to reduce reliance on foreign donors and promote local production of tuberculosis medicines.
Moreover, the FEC approved the procurement of reproductive health and family planning commodities through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, valued at approximately N25 billion. This initiative is designed to improve maternal healthcare and voluntary family planning services across the nation, with commodities being distributed through primary healthcare centres and supporting future local manufacturing.
These approvals reflect the administration’s dedication to improving healthcare access and fortifying Nigeria’s health system.