By Ijeoma Agbafo
The Federal Government says it is taking deliberate steps to address electricity challenges affecting healthcare delivery through the Health Power Initiative, aimed at improving power supply in hospitals across the country.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq-Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the 11th Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Intensive and Critical Care Society of Nigeria (I-CCSN).
Salako said the initiative would improve healthcare services, enhance patient safety and ensure the efficient operation of critical medical equipment. He added that the government had also deployed 145 tricycle ambulances and six boat ambulances to strengthen the National Emergency Medical Service.
He stressed that sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure and emergency services was essential to building a resilient health system and improving maternal and critical care across the country.
The Chairman of the conference, Dr Olalekan Olatise, called on the Federal Government to introduce tax waivers for investors in the health sector to encourage greater private sector participation and expand healthcare infrastructure.
Olatise also urged the government to address persistent electricity challenges in hospitals, saying inadequate power supply and the high cost of intensive care equipment continued to hinder effective healthcare delivery.
