Nigeria and Israel have partnered to enhance healthcare services for patients suffering from liver and pancreatic diseases, with the collaboration focused on specialised training for Nigerian healthcare professionals and upgrading the country’s healthcare infrastructure....Read Full Article >>➤
The partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of achieving universal healthcare coverage for all Nigerians, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas. Speaking at the Hepato Pancreato Biliary symposium in Abuja on Friday, Anas explained that early disease detection is crucial, pointing to the challenges posed by late presentations.
She also highlighted the positive outcomes from recent medical interventions, including a successful procedure at the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, which showcased theeffectiveness of the collaborative efforts.
“The partnership has already yielded positive results, with a recent medical intervention at the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative efforts,” the special adviser said.
Anas praised Israeli Ambassador, Michael Freeman for his commitment to the partnership and acknowledged the role of Professor Sa’ad and international experts in facilitating the collaboration.
She mentioned that the project’s future looks promising, with plans to establish a capacity-based resource centre at FMC. The centre will focus on training and research, serving as a hub for healthcare professionals across Nigeria.
“We have had partnerships in the past with the Israeli embassy, especially in the area of capacity building, and digitalisation and other human resources aspect of development.
“The future of this partnership looks promising, with plans to establish a capacity-based resource center at the FMC. This centre will serve as a hub for training and research, enabling healthcare professionals from across Nigeria to benefit from the expertise shared through this collaboration,” she noted.
Anas expressed hope that the partnership would create a sustainable legacy, reducing the need for medical tourism and improving health outcomes for patients.
The special adviser, “We want to create a legacy that goes beyond this initial success. We aim to build a sustainable partnership that will continue to improve healthcare services in Nigeria.
“The partnership is expected to have a positive impact on the country’s healthcare system, reducing the need for medical tourism and improving health outcomes for patients with liver and pancreatic diseases.”
Ambassador Freeman reiterated that Israel’s support for Nigeria’s healthcare development is part of a broader effort to contribute expertise to Nigeria’s healthcare challenges.
The partnership, which began after discussions between Anas and Israeli officials, is aimed at building capacity, sharing knowledge, and establishing Nigeria as a centre of excellence in healthcare.
The envoy noted, “They discussed health initiatives within President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, and Israel expressed its desire to contribute its expertise to Nigeria’s healthcare challenges.”
Freeman added that the initiative had already saved the lives of four patients, and Israel is committed to further expanding the collaboration to include areas such as eye care and malaria treatment.
“Our dream is that Nigeria becomes a centre of excellence where people come on medical tourism to Nigeria, not from Nigeria.
“The partnership has already yielded positive results, with a recent medical intervention saving the lives of four patients.
“This is just the beginning, and Israel is committed to continuing its support for Nigeria’s healthcare development.”
The Chief Medical Director of FMC, Professor Sa’ad Ahmed, expressed gratitude for the collaboration and emphasised the importance of partnerships in healthcare improvement.
Ahmed, who was represented by the Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Bioku Muftau, noted that the successful surgeries performed on four patients were a testament to the positive impact of international cooperation.
Muftau also highlighted that the collaboration had laid the foundation for the hospital to become a centre for complex medical procedures.
“The issue of collaboration for healthcare improvement did not start this week. We have been on this journey for a very long time,” he noted.
He referred to previous successful partnerships with international organisations, including the Symphony Health Foundation in the UK and the Association of American Surgeons in Nigeria, which had enabled FMC to perform complex procedures such as open heart and neurosurgical surgeries. ...Read Full Article >>➤
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