The Federal Government (FG) has announced that the new Federal Medical Centres (FMCs) in Epe, Lagos State, and Misau, Bauchi State, will each include a School of Nursing.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Tunji Alausa, made this announcement on Tuesday in Abuja while appointing Adeleke Kaka as acting medical director for FMC Epe and Rufa’i Dachi for FMC Misau.
Alausa emphasized that these new institutions are crucial for national development. This initiative follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of three FMCs as part of the effort to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The other FMC will be in Ikole-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
According to Tinubu, the new centres will provide specialized medical care, attract skilled professionals, and support advanced medical research, thereby improving the country’s healthcare system.
Alausa noted, “This milestone reflects the Tinubu administration’s commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality across Nigeria. It aims to increase the much-needed human resources for health.”
He explained that these centres will reduce the burden on existing facilities and provide tertiary care to over one million residents, eliminating the need for long-distance travel for medical services.
Alausa also praised the Lagos State Government for its cooperation in transferring the Lagos General Hospital to the federal government, facilitating the establishment of FMC Epe.
The minister highlighted the administration’s focus on increasing the number of students in medical and nursing schools. “We’ve almost quadrupled the admission of students into nursing schools,” he said. “Before this administration, we enrolled about 28,000 nursing students annually; now, we expect over 100,000 by the end of the year.”
Addressing concerns about nurses migrating, Alausa stated, “We can’t stop migration, but we’re training more nurses to meet our needs. Even those who migrate contribute to our economy through remittances.”
The acting medical directors expressed their gratitude and commitment to improving healthcare. The Ministry of Health has worked with state governors to identify suitable sites for the FMCs, and the new directors have been appointed to ensure the centres’ successful establishment.
