Tinubu Celebrates Pate At 68, Hails Health Sector Reforms

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, on his birthday, praising his contributions to the transformation of Nigeria’s health sector.

In a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, on Sunday, Tinubu celebrated Pate as a “distinguished and globally acclaimed health professional” and lauded his contributions to the nation’s health and social welfare sector.

The President acknowledged what he described as significant transformation in the health sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda through Pate’s ministry, including the revitalisation of more than 3,100 primary healthcare centres.

He also highlighted the reorganisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), which he said had enabled more than 37 million Nigerians to access basic healthcare, as well as the upgrade of health facilities across the country.

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Tinubu further cited investments in health infrastructure and manpower, including the establishment of three oncology centres across the six geopolitical zones to reduce outbound medical tourism.

According to the President, more than 20,000 health professionals have also been recruited into federal tertiary hospitals to cushion the impact of brain drain, while more than 78,000 frontline health workers have been trained to improve the quality of primary healthcare delivery.

He also highlighted the vaccination of more than 17.1 million adolescent girls against human papillomavirus (HPV) to protect them against cervical cancer.

Tinubu commended Pate for facilitating investments in Nigeria’s healthcare value chain and pharmaceutical sector through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), with more than $5 billion in project pipeline secured so far.

“As Pate celebrates this auspicious day, the President joins family, friends, and associates to wish him good health and renewed strength as he continues to serve the nation diligently,” the statement said.