President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has underlined the need for immediate action to address the persistent energy supply crises in the tertiary hospitals and public health institutions of Nigeria.
Speaking in the National dialogue of interested parties about power in the health sector, Tinubu said that power cuts in hospitals compromise security, interruption care and cost life.
The dialogue was thematic, “feeding health through public-private synergy: to energize the Nigerian health sector for the future.”
While talking more, he raised concerns about the persistent energy supply crises in the tertiary hospitals of Nigeria and public health institutions and emphasized that he demands immediate government care and concerted action, since many lives are at stake. “We must act now,” he said.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary of the Federal Government (SGF), Senator George Akume, affirmed his administration’s commitment to transform the health sector by addressing innovative solutions to the challenges facing the sector, including the suboptimal electricity supply.
He pointed out that the initiative to advance in energy solutions in hospitals is part of the strategic direction of the renewed agenda of hope to address poverty of energy in Nigeria.
“We are building a robust base for cleaner energy delivery systems, more resistant and more decentralized in Nigeria,” Tinubu said. “These efforts are deeply rooted in the principles of sustainability, innovation and inclusion.”
The president described several measures that were taken to promote the deployment of sustainable energy, including the expansion of solar and hybrid systems outside the network, encourage the participation of the private sector and the promotion of public-private associations.
Tinubu urged development partners to continue supporting innovative energy health interventions, while asking the private sector to invest in the health and energy sectors. He pointed out that Nigeria offers an enabling environment, clear frames for the return of investment and a government willing to associate with credible investors.
The president emphasized that the national dialogue must obtain processable results, including the review and alignment of national and subnational policies on access to energy in the health sector, and the institutionalization of audits and energy planning within hospital systems.
“Let’s design and implement efficient, maintainable and property systems,” Tinubu said. “The success of this initiative will not be measured by the speeches we pronounce, but by uninterrupted light in our hospitals, the buzzing of the equipment in operation and the renewed trust of each Nigerian who walks through the doors of a public health installation.”
Tinubu reiterated his full support for the initiative, promising that he will receive the highest political support necessary to translate the ambition into the execution.
“Together, let’s energize health, empower institutions and protect the lives of our people,” he said.
Also speaking, the country director of the World Bank of Nigeria, Mathew Veghis, said that reliable power is essential for resistant health benefit.
Represented by Vinay Vurukutu, he emphasized that the availability of clean electricity for medical care institutions was essential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the sector.
He pointed out that the World Bank recognized the critical importance of power for the provision of health services, which reported its support for Nigeria in several projects to electrify health facilities.
According to him, the Nigeria electrification program allowed the Bank to support the electrification of 100 health centers in the 36 states and two university teaching hospitals.
“The second example is the impact project. This is a credit of 650 million dollars from the World Bank, which supports Nigeria’s goal to improve the use and quality of immunization, reproductive and maternal neonatal child health services.
“According to this project, the Government is providing renewable energy for more than 2,000 health care facilities throughout the country.
“The third is the distributed access through the Renewable Energy Scale (Dares) project, an initiative of 750 million dollars,” he said.
Veghis added that under the Dare project, the bank was supporting a pilot in the state of Lagos using a distributed sunroof system to turn on health facilities.
He said that the early testimonies of the interventions indicated that medical staff now worked more hours, access to the patient to services had increased, while infant and maternal mortality rates had been reduced.
He affirmed the bank’s commitment to support Nigeria’s trip, saying: “Together, today’s power challenges could be transformed into tomorrow’s opportunities for each citizen.
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