The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving healthcare in Nigeria by recruiting more health professionals and engaging Nigerian medical experts abroad.
Speaking during a tour of federal health facilities in Ogun State on Friday, Salako highlighted the government’s strategy to curb brain drain in the health sector. He stated that President Bola Tinubu has approved the recruitment of more health workers to address manpower shortages and enhance healthcare delivery.
“We are expanding our capacity to train health workers and actively engaging Nigerian professionals in the UK, US, and Ireland. While they may not be physically present, we are leveraging their expertise to support the Nigerian healthcare system,” Salako said.
To improve mental healthcare, Salako urged state governments to adopt the Mental Health Act, ensuring wider access to mental health services. Ogun State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, affirmed the state’s commitment to domesticating the act, emphasizing its importance in addressing rising mental health challenges.
Dr. Paul Agboola, Provost and Medical Director of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, welcomed the minister’s visit and expressed readiness to collaborate with the state government for the act’s implementation.