Idris to project Tinubu’s achievements in health, other sectors

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, says his ministry will strategically synergise with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other ministries to project the achievements of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

Idris stated this when he, alongside heads of parastatal agencies under his ministry, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the visit was part of efforts to deepen the delivery of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to Idris, the Tinubu administration, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is recording significant achievements, which must be effectively communicated to the public.

“We discovered the need to identify key ministries and engage with them directly to better understand their activities, rather than waiting to invite them for periodic press briefings.

“It is said in the communication space that 50 per cent of execution lies in communication. If you do not communicate, it will appear as if nothing has been done.

“What is not known has never happened. That is why we are kick-starting these visits to key ministries, even as we round off the year, to better understand their work,” he said.

Idris recalled that he, alongside the Ministers of Finance and Health, travelled within 12 hours to Katsina, Benin, and Enugu to inaugurate oncology centres.

He said the primary healthcare sector was undergoing massive rehabilitation nationwide.

Idris particularly commended the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for its focus on medical industrialisation, disease prevention, revitalisation of primary healthcare, expansion of cancer care services and reduction of medical tourism.

He assured that the Ministry of Information and National Orientation would deploy its platforms and agencies to amplify health sector reforms, promote preventive health awareness and ensure accurate dissemination of information nationwide.

In his remarks, Pate said President Tinubu placed health at the centre of the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that a healthy population was critical to national development and economic growth.

He explained that the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative was aimed at strengthening governance, expanding access to quality healthcare, boosting local pharmaceutical manufacturing, improving health security and ensuring equitable access to care.

Pate highlighted progress recorded in primary healthcare revitalisation, immunisation coverage, disease outbreak prevention, expansion of cancer treatment services and health insurance enrolment.

He noted that many successes in the health sector were often reflected in crises prevented rather than emergencies managed.

Pate emphasised the importance of effective communication in helping citizens understand preventive healthcare measures and government investments in the sector.

Our correspondent reports that those present at the meeting included the Managing Director of NAN, Malam Ali M. Ali, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, and other senior officials.