The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, says he believes Nigeria will overcome the new policy changes by the United States President Donald Trump, halting healthcare assistance to developing countries.
He expressed optimism on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Bayelsa State Haemodialysis Centre and the General Outpatient Centre at the 350-bed hospital at the Bayelsa Medical University in Yenagoa.
Both events were part of the weeklong programs celebrating the fifth anniversary of Governor Douye Diri’s tenure.
“There are some challenges that have emerged in the last three weeks on health, as a result of the US government’s policy changes, but as a country, there is nothing we cannot overcome.
The federal and state governments will work together to mitigate some of those challenges because even those who have HIV and kidney disease can come here and get treated without having to depend on someone from very far away land to come and support them.
“We are working to ensure that all the tiers of governments become responsible for the care of our population; with the resources that we have, we can harness it, and we can do it,” he said.
Pate said all the tiers of government must work collaboratively to harness the country’s resources and provide for the healthcare needs of the general populace.
