By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
The National President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Comrade Alhassan Abdullahi Yahya, paid a courtesy visit on the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate in his office at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, to issues of mutual benefits, collaboration and national interests.
The National Chairperson of NAWOJ, Hajia Aisha Ibrahim, was in team.
In his address, the NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, thanked the Honourable Minister for hosting him and his team at a very short notice, adding “the gesture is not taken for granted”.
The NUJ President commended for his remarkable effort, inputs and innovations in restructuring the health sector since assumption of office as Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Health.
Comrade Yahya appreciated Dr. Pate in revitalising Primary Health Care Programme at all levels especially in the rural communities and his timely approvals of logistics for the Basic Health Care Provisions, an effort, which he noted has gone a long way at reducing to a reasonable extent maternal mortality in the country.
He made a case for a Special Health Trust Fund, as an alternative funding for health sector, promising that journalists across the country shall continue to support the laudable efforts of the Honourable Minister in his modest reforms of changing the narratives; noting that the short stay in office of Dr. Ali Pate as Minister of health has witnessed significant increase in the health insurance scheme enrolment.
Yahya appealed for partnership and collaboration with the Ministry of health in organising Training and Workshops for journalists, to further boost their capacities and media visibility of activities of the health ministry in Nigeria.
Responding, the Minister of Health, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate thanked the NUJ National President and his entourage for the auspicious visit, stating that he believes in the ability of journalists to perform what he termed 4A functions, including, Awareness, Advocate, Accountability, Action.
Pate said, the ministry earlier recently launched an unprecedented first-of-its-kind Campaign in Africa, embarking on the vaccination of 100million children against preventable diseases, which is one of the gains of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration.
He promised to do all he can to collaborate with the NUJ and Nigerian journalists for the enhancement and sustainable development of health sector in the country. Dr. Ali Pate immediately there and then, directed his team to mandate their centres across the federation to engage the 37 Councils of the NUJ in Nigeria to uphold the understanding reached at the meet.
The statement was signed by Tita Onyebuchi, NzeAsst. National Secretary/Head Programs.
