NSIA expends $600,000 in supply of medical equipment

By Merit Ibe

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has disclosed that its recent supply of oxygen concentrators and patient monitors to medical institutions across the country gulped about $600,000.

The authority made the disclosure during the formal handover of the medical equipment which included 126 units of patient monitors and 63 units of oxygen concentrators to 21 healthcare institutions across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

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At the virtual handover ceremony, the Managing Director, NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, said the Authority expects that the supply of these equipment, which is part of its COVID -19 relief programme, will help in alleviating the inventory gaps in the hospitals.

With the nation’s economy still in recovery, Orji said the Board was of the view that there was the need to add to the stock of critical medical equipment required for the containment of the virus in Nigeria.

The NSIA boss said the supply of oxygen concentrators and patient monitors is expected to boost government’s efforts to provide an efficient and effective healthcare response for those affected by the virus.

NSIA had invested over $20 million in establishing three ultramodern healthcare centres of excellence in the country. Recently, up to $5.5 million was invested in the establishment of the ultra-modern medical diagnostic centre which is located within the premises of the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, Abia state.

Prior to this, a diagnostic centres had been established in Kano at the Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and a Cancer treatment centre was set up within the premises of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

NSIA’s investment strategy in the healthcare sector is to partner with both public and private institutions to create Centres of Excellence in the healthcare delivery in Nigeria, focusing on diagnostics, tertiary healthcare targeting non-communicable diseases and medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

NSIA funded the construction of its diagnostic centres, including the acquisition and installation of modern laboratory and radiology equipment which will aid the provision of comprehensive diagnostics for the delivery of the highest quality of services.

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It would also help to provide high quality training opportunities for local professionals.

On her part, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed said the invasion of the COVID -19 has opened new supporting opportunities for innovative industries to succeed.

“President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is placing a focus on greater investment in the healthcare sector and working to ensure increased access to safe, high quality service for every Nigerian.”

She added that “investment in healthcare is critical to a thriving economy as a healthy people are an enabler for productivity,” saying the administration will continue to adjust the 2021 budget to enable the healthcare sector and acquire vaccines.

“we are glad that you have understood the principle of investment. Investing in health is also supporting the economy.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, lamented that the pandemic has had huge negative impact on the global community disrupting health care systems.

Mustapha, who is also the chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, said since the outbreak of the pandemic in Nigeria, the Federal Government had taken stringent measures to check the spread of the disease, listing some of the measures to include the ban on flights, the imposition of curfew, nationwide lockdown, and compulsory wearing of face masks.

However, the SGF noted that despite these measures, the lack of compliance and second wave of the virus had compelled government to issue the Coronavirus Disease Health Protection Regulation of 2021 which was signed by President Buhari on January 26.

He also said the Federal Government had rehabilitated oxygen plants and will be constructing one in every state of the federation to boost its response to the pandemic.

Mustapha said Government will not rest until it ensures the battle against the pandemic is won.

“We are happy that the NSIA has assisted in providing these facilities and this equipment is a welcome development. It could not have come at a better time,” he said.

Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, who commended the NSIA for its intervention in the healthcare centres in the country,said with the success so far recorded by the Authority in the running of these centres, the Federal Government would be studying the model with a view to adopting it.

He said while the nation’s healthcare system is not where the government wants it to be, the NSIA model in the healthcare sector would help the country have a good healthcare system.

He said the government would also be working closely with the NSIA to reverse the situation.

Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), commended the presentation,saying it was an opportunity to build a better healthcare sector.

He added that the supply was coming at a critical time with the challenges in the health sector, adding that the centre was looking forward to working with NSIA for a sustainable relationship.