By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate, has lamented the dearth of licensed Physiotherapists alongside significant shortages in other rehabilitation professions.
The Coordinating Minister made the assertion in Bauchi while officially launching, Integrated Rehabilitation Services in Primary Health Care (PHC) in Nigeria, saying, “While we celebrate today’s success, we must also confront one of our greatest challenges with honesty and resolve.”
He declared that, “Nigeria currently has approximately 34,000 Primary Health Care Centres, yet we have only about 5,000 licensed Physiotherapists, alongside significant shortages in other rehabilitation professions. This workforce is clearly insufficient to support the nationwide integration of rehabilitation services into Primary Health Care.”
Represented by Hon Baba Abubakar, he stressed that, “This challenge demands bold reforms and innovative solutions. Accordingly, I encourage the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria to continue reviewing its regulatory frameworks and, where appropriate, draw valuable lessons from the successful workforce expansion models adopted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Pharmacists Council of
Nigeria. “
According to him,”Through strategic expansion of accredited training institutions, innovative educational pathways, competency-based training, strengthened regulation and effective workforce planning, we can substantially increase the
number of competent rehabilitation professionals while maintaining the highest
standards of professional practice.”
He however assured that,”The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare stands ready to work with the Board, educational institutions and relevant stakeholders to achieve this objective.”
“We are equally pursuing additional funding to replicate the Doya model in other Primary Health Care Centres across the country. In addition, the Ministry is
advancing the integration of rehabilitation services and rehabilitation-related assistive products into the National Health Insurance framework in order to
reduce the financial burden and out-of-pocket expenditure currently faced by Nigerians requiring rehabilitation services,” he added.
He stressed that,”The success of this initiative will ultimately depend on partnership. I therefore call upon all the professional associations within the rehabilitation Orthotists, Speech and Language Therapists, Audiologists and every other
rehabilitation profession, to work together in unity, mutual respect and shared purpose.”
He added that, “Professional diversity should never divide us; rather, it should strengthen our collective capacity to deliver comprehensive, multidisciplinary and patient-centred rehabilitation services to Nigerians.”
Ali Pate then called upon State Governments, Local Government Authorities, Primary Health Care Development Agencies, development partners, Academia, training institutions, Civil Society Organisations and organisations of persons with disabilities to continue supporting the national agenda.
He expressed optimism that “Together, we can build a health system where rehabilitation services are no longer confined to tertiary hospitals but are available within communities through
Primary Health Care, ensuring that every Nigerian has the opportunity to attain the highest possible level of functioning, independence and quality of life.”
“As we launch this programme today, let us renew our collective commitment to building a healthcare system that not only saves lives but also restores dignity, promotes independence, improves productivity and gives renewed hope to millions of Nigerians,” the Minister added.
He concluded,”It is now my singular honour and privilege to formally declare the National Launch of Integrated Rehabilitation Services in Primary Health Care (PHC) in Nigeria officially launched.”
Some of rehabilitation equipment
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