By Ngozi Uwujare
The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), in charge of Police Medical Service, Force Headquarters, Abuja, Mr. Kaumi Ahmadu, has said the Nigeria Police would soon establish 12 additional standard medical facilities in the 12 zonal police commands.
He told Daily Sun in Abuja: “We are going to key into the National Health Act of 2014. There are lots of opportunities the police have not tapped into. We have collaborated with the Ministry of Health. They have accepted us to be a member of their technical working committee.
“We are going to contribute meaningfully in the deliberation to be forwarded to the National Assembly. The advantages that will come to the force in the National Health Act of 2014 are principally in the National Primary Health provision fund.”
He disclosed that the World Medical Relief (WMF) of the World Health Organization (WHO), partnered with the Nigeria Police to assist in the completion of the Maternal and Child Welfare Clinic, initiated by the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), the establishment of a modern diagnostic canter and a standard hospital out of the numerous health facilities of the force:
“The donation of 20 number 40 FT containers of hospital equipment there will be training of medical personnel on the use and maintenance of the equipment to be donated, the training of over 20 law enforcement officers on investigation, crime scene and prosecution.”
Ahmadu stated that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, ordered that police retirees should be included in the national Health Insurance Scheme: “The scheme is a social health insurance established by the Federal Government via Decree 35 of 1999 now Act 35 of the National Assembly to operate as a public private partnership enterprise.
“The scheme would give the retirees a wide choice of health care providers from a comprehensive list of credible and certified hospitals nationwide. Pensioners do not need to run helter-skelter for help in emergency health situation as health care is already pre-paid.
“My vision for the medical center is to be the health care provider of choice for all police personnel their families and the communities we serve in Nigeria. Also, my mission is to continuously provide high quality health care services that conform to international standard.
“These include to adequately train and motivate professionals in a supportive looking environment; to collaborate with other stakeholders thereby having a health work force for effective police operations within and outside Nigeria.”
Ahmadu said 10 police medical doctors to be trained as consultants/specialists have been sent to various Nigerian universities: “When they finish their course, they will come in as a consultants/specialists. They will assist the police to establish directorates.
“We also proposed to establish a standard police hospital and diagnosed centre in Abuja, which follows the extension of other hospitals in the six geographical zones in the country.”