Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has announced the Federal Government’s approval of a 50% electricity subsidy for public hospitals nationwide. The subsidy is part of a broader initiative aimed at reducing operational costs for these hospitals and easing the financial burden on patients.
Dr. Alausa made this announcement during a visit to the National Neo-Psychiatric Hospital in Barnawa, Kaduna, where he also inaugurated several new projects. These included the Electronic Health Records system and Alternative Power Supply at the Lawal Jafaru Isah Emergency Complex, as well as a solarization project at the hospital’s dialysis unit. The latter project comprises a solar-powered borehole and a 10.2 KVA inverter with a lithium battery at the Abdulkareem Jika Yusuf COVID-19 Intervention Centre.
In a move to broaden healthcare service delivery, Dr. Alausa revealed plans to rename federal hospitals as “Specialist Hospitals.” He explained that while psychiatric services will remain a core focus, the rebranding will help expand services and reduce the stigma often associated with psychiatric hospitals. “This renaming will allow for the continuous expansion of services,” Dr. Alausa said, adding that the change would make the hospitals more inclusive for all patients.
Dr. Alausa expressed his confidence in the leadership of Dr. Aishatu Yusha’u Armiyau, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, noting that the institution’s success is a testament to the promises made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his campaign.
At the National Eye Care Centre, where Dr. Alausa also commissioned the Dr. G.O Adejor Optical Showroom and the Dr. M.B Alhassan Diagnostic and Laser Unit, he addressed the ongoing warning strike by Resident Doctors. He expressed concern that the strike was complicating efforts to secure the release of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, who was recently kidnapped from the hospital’s staff quarters. He appealed for calm and assured the hospital management that efforts were being made to ensure Dr. Popoola’s safe return.
On the issue of the mass exodus of medical professionals to other countries, Dr. Alausa mentioned that the government is working on a strategy to engage medical personnel in the diaspora. Despite the structural challenges inherited by the current administration, he assured that President Tinubu is collaborating with state governments to expand Health Science Universities, with the aim of increasing annual enrollment in health sciences programs from 24,000 to 100,000 students.
Earlier in the visit, Dr. Aminatu Abdulrahman, Acting Chief Medical Director of the National Eye Centre, highlighted the hospital’s contributions since its establishment in 1979. She noted that the center provides specialized eye care, training, and research for Nigeria and neighboring countries. The 300-bed hospital, situated on 514 hectares of land, serves as a referral center for patients from all 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.
In 2023, the hospital attended to approximately 53,406 outpatients and performed 4,653 surgeries, supported by a staff of 640, including 369 clinical and 281 non-clinical personnel.
