The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment towards developing the healthcare sector to meet the increasing demand of Nigerians. Being a major hub for healthcare and pharmaceutical production in the West African sub-region, the country will do whatever it takes to ensure that health and wellbeing of Nigerians are improved.
Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr Salma Ibrahim Anas, made this disclosure at the just concluded Medic West Africa 2024 conference held at the Landmark Centre, Lagos from 17 to 19 April, 2024.
“It gives me great joy and pleasure to attend this important event representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This administration attaches great importance to healthcare development, especially concerning how we can improve and change the trajectory of the health sector and how we can reverse the trend of local manufacturing of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals including vaccines in Nigeria,” she said.
Speaking further, Anas said: “We are partners with you in this journey of success. We know this will not be achieved in one day but the most important thing is to prioritise it. It is one of the key priorities of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, which the Honorable Minister of Health is implementing through the four-point agenda approach.”
On his part, Senior Exhibition Director, Informa Markets, organisers of the event, Tom Coleman, said the impact of Medic West Africa cannot be quantified in terms of the value it is bringing to the region.
He said: “For 11 years, Medic West Africa has served as a vital bridge, bringing the latest healthcare innovations directly to the West African region. We take immense pride in being the leading healthcare business platform, fostering a dynamic environment where all key stakeholders – from leading manufacturers and distributors to government officials and frontline clinicians – convene, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships. This collaborative spirit is the cornerstone for driving sustainable growth and positive change across the entire West African healthcare ecosystem and value chain.”
The three-day event served as a rallying point for a multitude of stakeholders including healthcare professionals, industry leaders, innovators and government representatives, to promote the exploration of technological innovations and foster an environment of knowledge exchange and collaboration that promises to revolutionize the region’s healthcare landscape.
As the gateway to access the West African healthcare market, the presence of prominent government representatives served as a powerful testament to the unwavering commitment from national leadership to prioritize healthcare development.
Amongst those who engaged in insightful discussions and participated in key events, demonstrating a clear vision for a future, where West Africa boasts a robust and accessible healthcare system for all, were Dr Anas; National Coordinator, Presidential Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain initiative, Dr Abdu Mukhtar; Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Prof. Akin Abayomi; President, Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Dr Pamela Ajayi; President of West Africa Federation of Alliances of the Private Sector of Health (FOASPS), Dr Boguifo Joseph; and former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and Founder of Pharmaplus Nigeria Ltd, Pharm Ahmed I Yakasai.
With a bustling agenda and strategic activities, Medic West Africa 2024 was an unmatched ideal industry platform for the collaboration of health stakeholders in achieving improved healthcare for all Nigerians. The event fostered crucial partnerships, ignited conversations around the most pressing healthcare challenges, and most importantly, showcased the power of innovation to make a real difference.
The event was supported by Crown Healthcare, GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, and UNI-Medical as platinum partners; PPC Healthcare as a gold partner; and Gabbi Health as a silver partner.
