Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnibe Mamoora has said Nigeria would in a few weeks time, take delivery of additional 4 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to enable more Nigerians to get vaccinated against the deadly virus, the third wave of which is currently raging in the country.
He gave this hint on Thursday in Lagos at the inauguration and induction ceremony of the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria (AMSN).
Mamoora, who was inducted as honorary fellow of the academy at the event alongside three other government ministers, who are Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ohanire, who was also physically present; the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe and the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, who was also represented, asked Nigerians to continue to take precautionary measures at all places to prevent the spread of the virus.
He said while awaiting the delivery of the additional dosages of vaccines without mentioning from which country in particular, it is also necessary for people to continue to observe all the government’s guidelines and protocols to curtail further spread of the virus.
He, however, commended the leadership of the newly inaugurated Academy and thanked them for counting him worthy to be honoured as a fellow, saying he believes the objectives of the academy would help to address the myriads of challenges facing the health sector.
In his own remark earlier, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ohanire, who inaugurated the board of trustees of the academy at 9.20 am and left the event halfway for another official engagement outside Lagos at 10.44 am, said the individual contributions of members of boards, who are the founders of the academy, namely Prof Oladapo Ashiru; Prof Osato Giwa-Osagie; Dr Sonny Kuku and Prof Augustine Ohwovoriole, to the health sector and humanity in and outside Nigeria are well acknowledged.
He said now with the high calibres of other fellows of the academy who are professionals in various health and medical and allied fields, Nigeria’s health sector would experience a dramatic turn-around in no time.
While promising Federal Government collaboration with the academy in areas necessary, he said Nigeria’s health challenges could only be tackled through teamwork.
The minister, however, lamented the poor remunerations of health care personnel particularly the doctors in the country, saying the development is driving many Nigerian doctors away to seek greener pasture abroad.
He said at the moment, it is difficult for us as a country to compete in salaries payment to doctors with the developed countries, but he believes that gap will be closed with time.
In his address earlier, the President of the academy, Prof Oladapo Ashiru, said the idea behind the academy was borne out of their passionate desire to contribute more meaningfully to the growth and development of the health and medical sector in the country.
He explained that the sole objectives of the academy are to promote excellence in medical research and education, and also the application of research in the practice of medicine and the enhancement of human health and welfare.
He said the academy would be able to achieve the objective by performing, among others mentorship, collaboration and advisory roles on health-related issues of national importance to government and private sectors for well-informed policies directions.
He said that was why the academy now with a total of 136 persons as fellows shall be merit-based membership and a think-tank for the country in various health challenges and development.
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