Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr Babagana Adam, has rallied stakeholders nationwide towards an ethical revolution to usher in accountability as a way of life in the vital sector.
Dr Adam spoke in Abuja as part of a seven-man distinguished panel of discussants during a conference on ‘Engendering Corruption-free primary health care delivery for all’ organized by Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
The creme de la creme in the nation’s health sector graced the occasion.
Among them were Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health Services, Hon. Amos Magaji; Coordinating Minister of Health Services and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate; Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer (ED/CEO), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina; Mandate Secretary, FCT Administration (FCTA)’s HSES, Dr Dolapo Fasawe; Dr Adam; president, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Dr Bala Audu; and a glittering array of others.
Chairman, ICPC, Musa Aliyu (SAN) hosted the well-attended event.
Responding to a question on ‘how can we create a more friendly primary health care, focusing on the FCT?’, Dr Adam urged a change in the attitude of health sector stakeholders, including patients, as a step forward.
Setting the ball rolling by stressing that he was speaking for himself and not as Permanent Secretary, Dr Adam said accountability was of prime importance in getting it right.
Dr Adam, who was appointed barely few months ago by President Bola Tinubu on the recommendation of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, asserted that institutions and individuals responsible for primary health care (PHC) and others must be held accountable to do what is right and proper for the benefit of the people.
The brilliant Borno State-born Permanent Secretary advocated that any form of sentiments should be discarded in ensuring equitable PHC service delivery.
To him, Nigerians have to exercise more than religion to make things work seamlessly.
His words: “We need to be religious-plus; it doesn’t have to be Islam or Christianity. Even if you’re a traditional worshipper, we need the Chinese mentality. Up till now, I don’t know if they’re (the Chinese) Muslims or Christians, but most of the time, for them it is work and their work ethics.
“Don’t get me wrong: I’m not saying the Chinese are not corrupt, but I think we need an ethical revolution.
“‘Change begins in me’; that slogan is not a joke.”
The Permanent Secretary also advocated less dependence by Nigerians on foreign donors, saying “we should relate with them, but not rely 100% on donors. Let the Local Governments (LGs), contribute resource mobilization, let states contribute and let the FG contribute and let there be an accountability system with the faith in whatever you worship.”
Furthermore, he called for more training of health personnel; digitization of systems and processes to eliminate graft opportunities; more recruitment for PHCs from among skilled locals and their subsequent training in areas deficient in the communities so as to boost commitment to accountability to the system; as well as other novel approaches.
Speaking earlier, Professor Pate said the Federal Government was moving to institute accountability in the nation’s health care system, stressing that it had been discovered that the inhibiting challenges to flawless service delivery lay in the system and not just in those personnel he described as “bad apples.”
In her own speech, Dr Fasawe said FCTA’s PHC system’s flaws were being tackled to make for better delivery even as she lauded the huge efforts made by Minister Wike so far.
