From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said the parliament is committed to the recruitment, training and retention of healthcare professionals in the country.
Abbas, stated this, at a public organised by the House Committee on Specialty Healthcare, on three bills seeking to establish different specialist eye care institutions, across the country.
The speaker noted that the Green chamber is also committed to the review of existing laws in the health sector. According to him, this is necessary to facilitate the adoption and integration of new healthcare technologies, so as to enhance healthcare delivery in the country.
“These Bills reflect the determination of the 10th House to take appropriate legislative actions to improve the recruitment, training and retention of healthcare professionals and allied healthcare workers; facilitate the adoption and integration of new healthcare technologies; and revisit laws related to public health concerns to enhance healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
” Also, our commitment aligns with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and mandates accessibility to public services and buildings, anchored on their constitutionally guaranteed right to life.
” These Bills, if considered and passed, will address the current low-level scientific research and development in vision healthcare and ensure a phenomenal increase in the number of qualified professional manpower and the establishment of more specialised eye care facilities across the country.
“Overall, these Bills will significantly improve the quality of vision healthcare, drastically reduce quackery in the health sector, and by extension, reduce the incidence of vision impairment in Nigeria, ” Abbas stated.