Enugu LG Chairman Begins Free Healthcare For Elderly, PWDs

Enugu LG chairman begins free healthcare for elderly, PWDs. “The purpose of this programme is to boost the average life expectancy of our people from 54 years to 70 years and above,” the chairman said.

The chairman of the Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, Eric Odo, says it would kick-start free healthcare services for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Mr Odo, also a medical doctor, said on Friday in Ogbede, the council headquarters, that a joint medical team to be set up by the council would administer free healthcare to the senior citizens.

He said, “We have concluded plans to employ doctors, nurses, and laboratory scientists to move with an ambulance around the 20 wards in the council area to attend to men and women of 60 years and above.

“We have discussed with the State Primary Healthcare Management Board and the Commissioner for Health our desire to begin the process of taking care of the elderly in Igbo-Etiti council.

“The purpose of this programme is to boost the average life expectancy of our people from 54 years to 70 years and above.”

Mr Odo disclosed that the council was registering 1,000 widows, who would be placed on a monthly stipend.
“Once the process is done, the benefiting widows would come to the local government headquarters to receive their stipend every month,” he said.

Mr Odo thanked Governor Peter Mbah for his support.
“We are also starting a universal health coverage that ensures that whenever the vulnerable, physically challenged and elderly persons are sick, they can go to any hospital in Igbo-Etiti, present their card and receive free treatment,” he added.

Enugu State

The chairman noted that his administration was poised to make the Igbo-Etiti council area the most progressive council area in every facet of life.

“I assure you that before the end of this year, the economic activities we have stimulated in different fields are capable of generating resources that can allow us to unleash aggressive development in our council,” he said.

FG Inaugurates Committee To Hold Dialogue On Power In Health Sector

FG inaugurates committee to hold dialogue on power in health sector. Mr Salako said experts from the health and power sectors would attend the proposed national dialogue.

The federal government is set to host a national stakeholders’ dialogue to address the challenges of huge energy costs and lack of power being faced by federal tertiary health institutions.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, announced this on Friday in Abuja during a media conference, where he also inaugurated a committee to plan and prepare for the dialogue.
Mr Salako said such a dialogue has become necessary owing to the deficits in electricity provision and huge energy costs.

He said the federal government had sought to address the challenges through various initiatives such as a 50 per cent electricity subsidy for public hospitals and the provision of solar power mini-grids in selected hospitals.

“These initiatives have, however, not been able to substantially address the challenges; thus, the need for an urgent rethinking of our traditional models of power generation and supply to hospitals.

“Indeed, the current situation requires a collaborative whole-of-government approach as we work across sectors to resolve many challenging issues that are beyond the purview of the health sector,” the minister said.

Mr Salako added that some instances of alternative energy solutions were being deployed in certain health institutions nationwide.
However, he pointed out that these efforts were neither integrated nor guided by a holistic framework, operational guidelines, or an overarching policy.

He noted that there had also been reports of fire incidents, battery malfunction, theft of critical energy infrastructure, and other operational or maintenance problems in some health institutions that had embarked on alternative energy projects.

The minister added that in all the hospitals he had visited, he instructed the medical directors to explore various public-private partnership (PPP) models and develop business cases.

Additionally, he asked them to draw up strategic plans of engagement that would attract private-sector investments.

Mr Salako said the objectives of the dialogue were to assess the existing power policy environment in relation to the urgent energy needs of tertiary health facilities and other public health facilities in Nigeria.
“This assessment would be based on lessons learned from other low-middle-income countries (LMICs).

It is also to gather field experiences of the current power situation and elicit practical recommendations and best practices.

“It would also identify alternative and sustainable solutions by exploring renewable energy options, backup power systems, and energy-efficient solutions to enhance power reliability.

“It would also build consensus on policy and regulatory frameworks, funding mechanisms, and sustainability strategy for efficient power supply to tertiary health facilities and other public health institutions in the country,” the minister said.

Mr Salako said experts from the health and power sectors would attend the proposed national dialogue.

Power In Health Sector

He added that key decisions and recommendations would be documented in the communiqué, and a collaborative plan of action would be developed to monitor the implementation of these decisions.

While inaugurating the dialogue implementation committee, he said it would work with certain terms of reference.

The committee is expected to convene the national stakeholders’ dialogue on power in the health sector and ensure the effective implementation of recommendations.

FG to Complete Cash Transfers To Vulnerable Nigerians: IMF

FG to complete cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians: IMF. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged the Nigerian government to fast-track the completion of its cash transfer programme to support vulnerable households amid ongoing economic reforms.

IMF Communications Director, Julie Kozack, emphasized that while Nigeria’s efforts to stabilize its economy are commendable, policies must also protect the country’s poorest citizens.

IMF’s First Deputy Managing Director, Gita Gopinath, recently visited Nigeria and met with key officials, including Finance Minister Wale Edun and CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso. She also engaged with civil society groups and private sector stakeholders.

FG to Complete Cash Transfers

IMF representatives will return next week for the 2025 Article IV Consultation, an assessment of Nigeria’s economic policies. The Fund has consistently urged Nigeria to expand its cash transfer programme, particularly in rural areas, to alleviate rising poverty and food insecurity.

Similarly, the World Bank has stressed that cash transfers are crucial in helping Nigerians escape poverty amid inflation and weak economic growth.