… health security blueprint for Nigeria –Prof Nimi Briggs
…inducts 59 fellows
By Mandy Park
As part of its responsibility to the nation, the Nigerian Academy of Medicine (NAMed) on Thursday, September 29, 2022, facilitated another of its series of developmental annual lectures in Abuja.
Part of this year’s activities was to also mark the induction of its 59 new fellows and awards ceremony.
The annual lecture titled “2023 AND BEYOND – Setting The Health Agenda For Nigeria” was delivered by erudite Emeritus Professor of Medicine and a Foundation Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Medicine, Prof. Nimi Briggs, OON, who thoroughly did justice to the lecture topic.
The distinguished Lecturer, declared that in 2023 and beyond, Nigerians should have a health security blueprint based on what he termed a three – point agenda which includes – ” Identify and address the gaps in the health system; Incrementally expand Universal Health Coverage; and Using of Research and Innovation to drive development in the health sector”.
According to the emeritus Professor “the overriding objective remains that of putting in place a health system that will be sufficiently robust and resilient to offer satisfactory health cover and security to all Nigerians and its legal residents at costs that are not prohibitive’.
He said such a health system should prepare the country and also enable it to contend with future health and related challenges.
The occasion which was chaired by the Chairman of the Academy’s Board of Trustees, Prof Tolu Odugbemi, OON NNOM FAS FNAMed had in attendance the cream de la cream of the society, representatives of the presidential candidates of the major political parties who were specially invited because of the contemporary nature of the topic.
Other dignitaries in attendance, included the Hon. Minister of Health, who was represented by Prof Saad Ahmed, the Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation who was represented by the Director – General/CEO of the Centre for Technology Prof Charles Onyenekwe, two former Ministers of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Prof. Isaac Adewole and Prof. Pat Utomi among others.
