Secretary to the government of federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has revealed how he made a case for the establishment of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Hong and persuaded President Muhammadu Buhari to give his approval of the health facility.
Mustapha said he worked assiduously for the establishment of the FMC to cater for the health needs of 223,176 population of the local government area and beyond.
At the maiden Hong Economic Summit in Hong, the SGF underscored the significance of the hospital , saying the state has produced 130 medical doctors, 60 pharmacists and over 100 academic professors over the years, needing to have a tertiary health institution to cater for the health constraints of the people.
Mustapha told the gathering that he had the opportunity of knowing the level of preparedness of every state in confronting health challenges in his capacity as chairman Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and argued that the setting up of the hospital couldn’t have come at a better time than now.
He noted, ” I remembered vividly, when I was making an appeal for to my Principal, Mr President, to administratively approve the establishment of FMC Hong, I showed him lists of 130 medical doctors, 60 pharmacists, indigene of Hong, their names, addresses, e-mail and locations in the world to back my request. God has been gracious to allow our people (Kilba) to acquire benefits of western education.
“We are grateful to God that today we can beat our chest with the element of bride for the caliber of people we have.”
Earlier, the commissioner for information and strategy, Dr Umar Garba-Pella, in his remarks, urged the people of the area to address what he described as elite contradiction, where citizens acquire education without resources.
Pella added that the Kilbas need a type of education that can liberate them from the present vicious circle of poverty bedeviling the land.
He urged the youths to explore entrepreneurial opportunities, embedded in setting up the health institution for the development of the area.
The FMC Bill, was sponsored by representative Yusuf Buba on July 15, 2021 and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on April 9.
LEADERSHIP reports that the event was attended by Gen Haladu Hananniya (rtd) former Corps Marshal FRSC, and former minister of health, Aliyu Idi Hong among others.
(Leadership)
