FG to partner private sector on training health workers — Shettima

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima has expressed commitment of the Federal Government to explore private sector partnership on training of health workers in the country.

Shettima who noted the health sector as one of the top priorities of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration said the partnership aimed to enhance healthcare delivery.

The Vice President made this known on Wednesday while hosting management of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) led by its Chief Medical Director, Professor Ahmed Ahidjo. 

He commended the team for the giant strides recorded in the institution, adding that the Federal Government remains committed to supporting human capacity development in the hospitals across the country.

He said, “Training is very essential; we will explore all available windows to support UMTH and other teaching hospitals in the country in the training of their personnel. We will see how our partnership with the private sector can be helpful in this regard.

“I want to commend the CMD and his team for providing quality leadership to the hospital and all of their subordinates. There have been remarkable improvements witnessed at UMTH since his assumption of duty.

“In terms of staff morale, capacity building and the general outlook of the teaching hospital, the improvements have been massive.

"The expansion of the hospital from a 600-bed to a 1305-bed facility and equipped with modern facilities. The CMD has been proactive and aggressive in all that he does, including sourcing for external funding."

As contained in a statement on Wednesday by Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President's spokesperson, Ahidjo appreciated Shettima for his support to the institution for a period of over 15 years. 

He explained that with support of the government and other stakeholders, the hospital has expanded from a 600-bed to a 1,305-bed facility equipped with state-of-the-art machines.

He further solicited for the support to make the institution "an international centre of excellence in healthcare delivery and training of personnel through the construction of an electronic health institute to facilitate its digitalization project."