WorldStage– The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to provide uninterrupted electricity to 30 per cent of healthcare facilities nationwide by the end of 2027.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, said this at the Nigeria Power for Health Initiative (NPHI) Investor Matchmaking Event on Monday in Lagos.
It was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ministry of Power and UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UKPACT).
He said the target would be achieved through clean and affordable energy solutions as well as public-private partnerships built around Energy-as-a-Service delivery models.
According to him, inadequate electricity supply remains a major challenge to effective healthcare delivery across the country.
He said the initiative was designed to foster collaboration among government agencies, developers, investors and financiers to expand access to clean energy in healthcare institutions and improve health outcomes.
Salako disclosed that 98 tertiary healthcare institutions across the country had been selected as the first beneficiaries of the initiative.
“Electricity is a limiting factor in healthcare delivery. There have been instances where surgeries were disrupted by power outages, sometimes with tragic consequences.
“The objective is to address power challenges in the healthcare system and enhance service delivery.
“We are starting with about 98 tertiary hospitals because they operate complex equipment and require reliable energy supply.
“The heads of these institutions are here to engage with investors, financiers, grant makers and developers to establish mechanisms for scaling up energy access,” he said.
Also speaking, the Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Tegbe, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to achieving the target, stressing the importance of collaboration among stakeholders.
Tegbe described electricity as a critical pillar of healthcare delivery and said the initiative was aimed at integrating sustainable energy solutions into the health sector.
“The overall objective is to electrify healthcare facilities and improve access to affordable healthcare.
“Given the capital requirements, special interventions are needed to ensure that power supply remains sustainable and affordable.
“By the end of 2027, more than 30 per cent of healthcare facilities will have access to uninterrupted electricity, and we are committed to achieving this goal,” he said.
Earlier, UKPACT Officer at the British High Commission, Folakemi Aletan, pledged continued support for efforts to expand access to sustainable energy in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
She said the organisation was developing projects that met investors’ expectations and would strengthen the pipeline of energy investments.
In her welcome address, Dr Abiola Adegoke, Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, said the initiative emerged from deliberate efforts to tackle critical challenges facing the health sector.
According to her, the National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector led to the signing of a pact and the development of a roadmap that birthed the NPHI.
She said an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee and an Inter-Agency Technical Committee were subsequently established to provide oversight, technical evaluation and financial sustainability for the initiative.
The event attracted heads of government agencies, healthcare professionals, financiers and energy developers.It also featured goodwill messages from stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Committee of Chief Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria, Prof. Saad Ahmed.
