The Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria said it will honour some distinguished Nigerians who have contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria’s health sector as part of the programme to mark its centenary anniversary next week.
The association made this known in a statement signed by its National President, Dr. Iyke Odo, on Sunday in Abuja.
The event, which will take place on August 12, 2021 at the Africa Hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja, will be preceded by a national dialogue on healthcare delivery in Nigeria to be chaired by a former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, same day.
Among the proposed awardees are former President Goodluck Jonathan “for his Servant-Leadership roles in the fight against Ebola, under his watch as President; Nigeria’s football icon, Kanu Nwankwo, got a nomination in another category for his selflessness and laudable work with the Kanu Heart Foundation, through which a lot of indigent children with heart conditions received free surgeries and other medical interventions; and Florence Otedola, Founder CUPPY Foundation for her amazing interventions in the Save the Children NGO.”
Other listed nominees include Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Founder, BUA Foundation, a notable donor in the health sector; Sir Emeka Offor, Founder, SEO Foundation, known for its very huge financial investment in the national fight against Polio; and Sir Daniel Chukwudozie, philanthropist and another huge interventionist in the healthcare sector in his native Anambra State.
The focus of the centenary event, according to Dr. Odo, is to be part of the solution to Nigeria’s myriad of problems in healthcare delivery as close observers of the health sector in Nigeria will readily attest to the fact that healthcare delivery is in dire stress.
He lamented: From the poor healthcare infrastructure to inadequate or total lack of critical equipment; the uninspiring conditions of work of the medical practitioners and other health workers, Nigeria’s health sector continues to gasp for breathe.”
Odo explained that as a way of giving back to the society, part of the event on that day will be the official launch of a private healthcare intervention fund to support two cardinal national projects for Nigeria, one of which is: “Save one million Nigerian mothers initiative,” otherwise known as the Mobile Health Solution.
He said the awardees are personalities that cut across age as well as political and social divides.
They also include Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor, Ekiti State and Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum; Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, former Governor of Ondo State; Hon. Bashorun Askia Ogieh, MD/CEO DESOPADEC; Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, who was President Jonathan’s Health Minister; and Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, MD/CEO, JUHEL Pharmaceuticals Limited, one of the country’s leading indigenous drug manufacturers.
Those to receive post humous awards include Prof. Dora Akunyili, former Director-Genera of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, for her relentless fight against fake and unwholesome food and drugs; late Dr. Stella Adadevoh for her supreme sacrifice in the fight against Ebola; and Prof. Olikoye Ransom-Kuti for his works in the area of Primary Health Care in the country.
Also, a former First Lady, Maryam Abacha, who founded what is now referred to as the National Hospital, Abuja, through her pet project, Family Support Programme Initiative, will be recognised.
It was originally known as the National Hospital for Women and Children.
Also to be recognised are people in the political, corporate business and Non-Governmental Organisation communities for the great impacts they have made overtime in the health sector, including Save The Children International, Nigeria; International Committee of the Red Cross; Society for Family Health; and Clinton Health Access Initiative.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
