Ministerial Nominee from Cross River State and Former APC National Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu, says Nigeria must travel at the speed of light to achieve universal Health Coverage the legislature and Executive arm of government have a pivotal role to play in ensuring rapid implementation of policies that would keep doctors in the country instead of pushing the brain-drain.Edu said this when she appeared before the 10th National Assembly for Ministerial Screening at the Senate Chambers on Monday.The former Cross River State Commissioner For Health and Chairman of Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum who gave intelligent answers was reacting to series of questions thrown at her by Distinguished Members of the 10th Senate across geopolitical Zones noted that government have a role to play in retaining health workers. working out better welfare packages for them and their families, good working environment with functional facilities from the Primary Health Centres to the teaching hospitals is key.
“I want to put it clearly on record and by the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, we need one doctor per 600 persons in a population. We need to make health insurance functional and improve primary health care.
She also noted that Nigerian Women needs empowerment from grassroots all the way up while thanking President Bola Tinubu for ensuring Women are given fair representation by the recent nomination and appointment so far. She called on the legislature to formulate bills that will support, improve, protect and empower Nigerian women.
