The Federal Government has called on religious leaders to contribute to the improvement of the nation’s healthcare system by restructuring their hospitals.
Engr. Adebiyi Olufunsho, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, made the call on Tuesday at the commissioning of the modern hemodialysis machines and other equipment presented to the Federal Medical Centre by the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints in Abuja.
according to him, missionary hospitals were one of the largest hospitals in the country many years ago, therefore, restructuring will help in easing the burden on public hospitals.
“In those days, one of the best hospitals you see in Nigeria are missionary hospitals.
“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to our religious leaders to go back to those old religions and revisit the construction of hospitals that would be affordable to the average Nigerian.
“I appeal to our rich men and wealthy Nigerians to come to the aid of our health centres. The population is enormous. Government is trying, but the population is quite enormous.”
Olufunsho said that the donated machines—three modern hemodialysis machines, three electric dialysis chairs, two patient monitors, two infusion pumps; three syringe pumps, and two infant incubators will provide excellent clinical service delivery to Nigerians seeking health services.
“I strongly believe that this medical equipment will go a long way in preserving and elongating the lives of our patients who are suffering from kidney and infant-related conditions.
“With these new additions, the hospital will be able to treat more renal patients timely, and also more infants will benefit from the incubator care,” he said.
Olufunsho urged the hospital management to maintain the lifesaving machines, to avoid having to procure new ones which will cost more.
