The Federal Government has launched rehabilitation services in primary health care at Doya Primary Health Care (PHC) Centre in Bauchi State.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Socal Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate who was represented by his Special Adviser, Dr Baba Abubakar Suleiman, disclosed this during the launch.
Prof Pate said the strategy recognises that over 210 million Africans require
rehabilitation services, while more than 63% of those in need are unable to access them.
He called upon Member States to integrate rehabilitation into all levels of healthcare, particularly primary health care, strengthen rehabilitation governance, financing, workforce development, information systems and emergency preparedness.
According to the Minister, at the National Stakeholders’ Meeting held in 2023, stakeholders unanimously resolved that rehabilitation services should be integrated into primary health care as the most effective means of expanding access to millions of Nigerians who require these services.
The Minister approved the National Minimum Benchmark Framework for the
integration of rehabilitation services and workforce requirements into primary
health care.
“The framework provides the operational standards that will guide implementation across the country and ensure quality, consistency and accountability.
“The launch is therefore not the end of a process, it is the beginning of a
national transformation,” he explained.
Prof Pate tasked stakeholders on collective commitment and building a healthcare system, saying it not only saves lives, but also restores dignity, promotes independence, improves productivity and gives renewed hope to millions of Nigerians.
Chairman Board of Trustees of Foundation for Empowering Persons with Disabilities through Medical Rehabilitation, Dr James Lalu, gave the equipment and materials and 1 year salary of a physiotherapist to deliver services at the Centre.
He said with the launch, residents of Doya and environs can now access physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, audiology, and prosthetics & orthotics right at the PHC level.
Registrar/CEO, Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board, Prof. Rufai Yusuf Ahmad, MRTB, reaffirmed the board’s commitment to regulate and ensure quality, safe, and ethical rehabilitation services for all Nigerians.
He said the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria has given renewed hope to millions of Nigerians who require rehabilitation services and to thousands of rehabilitation professionals dedicated to serving them.
He stressed that the board has also digitalised the regulatory processes and services to improve efficiency, transparency, responsiveness and accessibility.
“We shall continue to strengthen accreditation systems, enhance continuing professional development, promote competency-based education, support workforce expansion and collaborate with relevant institutions to ensure that Nigeria produces the number and quality of rehabilitation professionals required to support this important national initiative,” he explained.