The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a committee on health sector reform to look at issues in the sector such as strikes and brain drain.

The Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, Prof. Saad Ahmed disclosed this describing brain drain in the sector as a threat to the provision of healthcare services to the public.

According to him, the committee is already calling for memoranda from the public to help in its assignment.

Ahmed spoke in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Friday.

He said the FMC, Abuja had lost many staff members to brain drain in the last one year, adding that the development is affecting the hospital’s services.

He said, “The issue of brain drain is of serious concerns, which as Committee of CMDs, we were able to raise. I can tell you that the government has already set up a committee at the moment on health sector reform to look at the sector, to see areas where it needs to reform in order to stop restiveness and also the brain drain that we currently have.

“At the moment, that committee is calling for memoranda from members of the public and other stakeholders in order to help it in its assignment.

“Brain drain is one of the serious challenges that Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, is facing because I know the number of doctors, nurses and pharmacists that left this place within the last one year. They are quite a number.

“I think it is part of the things the reform committee is going to look at because we, leaders of the health sector, should be given some leverages to replace those that are leaving in order not to break services.”

Speaking also on medical tourism, Ahmed said the hospital has modern equipment at the moment to treat health issues that have been forcing Nigerians to seek help abroad.”

Ahmed said the attitudes of some health care workers were contributing to low patronage in most hospitals.

Lagos State Government has received the donation of eight new customized state-of-the-art Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) Ambulances and a well-equipped Mobile Clinic Truck from two donor partners; Global Fund; an international financing and partnership organization and Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) Nigeria respectively, for the improvement of emergency medical services and provision primary healthcare outreach services in Lagos communities.

The multi-million Naira MICU ambulances donated by Global Fund, are equipped with essential medical and built-in emergency equipment and gadget including; main ambulance stretcher with washable mattresses, stainless steel stretcher support, trauma kit, urinal plastic wedge, silicone resuscitator, immobilizers, ECG, Sp02, NIBP, respiration, pulse oximeter and IV hooks which are necessary to provide first aid on-the-spot treatment, stabilizing and supporting patient in transit and safe transportation of patients for further medical management.

The Mobile Clinic truck donated by MTN Nigeria is intended for medical outreaches and primary health care service provision in 14 local government areas in Lagos State as part of MTN’s Yello Doctor Project which is aimed at strengthening primary health care services to underserved communities across Nigeria.

Speaking while receiving the donation of the Ambulances and Mobile Clinic Truck in his office at the weekend, Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi noted that the State government has continued to enjoy support from its development partners, donor agencies, philanthropic organisations and well-meaning individuals who at various times donated items, resources and offered expertise in the State government’s drive to provide efficient, accessible and equitable health services to the citizenry.

He commended Global Fund and MTN Nigeria for donations adding that the noble gestures of the two organisations will further help strengthen the State healthcare delivery system and improve emergency and public health response in Lagos State.

Abayomi explained the eight ambulances which will be added to the fleet of ambulances in the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) will go a long way in expanding the coverage area of LASAMBUS, adding also that the health truck will bring primary health care services closer to the door steps of citizens and help bridge the access gap in health care services.

He added that the ultimate goal is to transform LASAMBUS and take it to a global benchmark standard, with more staff, more equipment, more ambulance bases and points with reduced emergency response time as it is the practice in advance climes.

He explained that the well equipped mobile clinic truck will offer basic primary health care services like immunization and treating of common ailments like malaria. He explained further that the health truck consists of a generator, a doctor and a nurse and can also transform into a small primary health care post.

While noting that appropriate implementation framework will be put in place for the deployment and supervision of mobile clinic truck for medical outreaches, Abayomi said the Lagos State Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of qualitative health care service delivery to the nooks and crannies of the state

Speaking in the same vein, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye maintained that LASAMBUS remains committed to the provision of swift and professional emergency services stressing that residents can be assured of getting fast and prompt emergency services when the need arises.

Ogboye further explained that the plan to build ambulance bases across all Local Government Areas of the State is in top gear. He noted that the goal is to ensure that people who need ambulance and emergency services can get it within the shortest possible time.