Tag: Health minister

‘850,000 children die yearly from preventable causes’ — Health Minister

Aminu Imam
Minister on prevention

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, revealed that an estimated 850,000 Nigerian children under the age of five die every year from preventable causes such as premature birth complications and pneumonia. Speaking in Abuja at the joint national commemoration of the ‘2025 World Pneumonia Day’ and ‘World Prematurity Day’ on Wednesday, Pate, represented by the Director of Health Promotion, John Urakpa, said the grim figures underscore Nigeria’s struggle to meet global child survival targets despite some progress in recent years. Pate acknowledged that Nigeria had made…

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‘Nigerians spend estimated $1bn yearly on medical care abroad’

Aminu Imam
Medical tourism

Nigerians spend an estimated $1 billion yearly on medical care abroad for conditions that can be effectively treated within their country, the Chief Consultant Orthopeadics Surgeon and Chief Medical Director of Alliance Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Christopher Otabor, has said. Otabor spoke after he was conferred with an ‘African Medical Practice and Leadership Excellence Award’ for his outstanding investment in Nigeria’s healthcare system by Africanstride International magazine, in Abuja at the weekend. He said there was the need for increased investment in healthcare infrastructure in the country if the nation was…

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H’Reps summon Health Minister over alleged misuse of $300m anti-malaria fund

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis yesterday gave the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Pate, and the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, a 72-hour ultimatum to appear before it over allegations of misuse of $300m meant to tackle malaria since 2021. This is just as the committee threatened to order the arrest of the permanent secretary, Kachallom Daju, if she fails to honour the summons, having failed to appear before it after three invitations. The duo are also expected to answer questions on allegations of…

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