By Arinola Kolade

The Federal Government has called for stronger collaboration with stakeholders in the health sector towards provision of quality health care services to reverse the poor health delivery indices in the country.

The Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, representing President Muhammadu Buhari, made the call in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the third Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies, CAANS, 2018.

Adewole said: “We are in support of the renewed focus of the West Africa College of Surgeons and the National Post-Graduate of Medical College’s determination to build capacity in these specialised areas.

“Nigeria has developed the new National Strategic Health Development Plan II, NSHDP II, which is a robust five-year roadmap for the health sector, geared towards realisation of our goal of increasing access, improving health outcomes and achieving universal health coverage.”

He appealed to Nigerian neurosurgeons in the Diaspora to join their counterparts in the country and the government towards the great task of national development.

Also speaking, President of CAANS, Professor Abderrahmane Sidi, disclosed that neurosurgeons from all parts of Africa were committed towards working together to meet the important needs of neurosurgery in the region, including populations in Sub- Saharan Africa.

He stated: ‘In recent years, we are particularly pleased to see the dynamism, willingness and enthusiasm of young African doctors for neurosurgery within CAANS’’.

The Congress Chairman, Prof. Samuel Ohaegbulam, in his welcome address said that, Congress had laid out pre- congress workshops, Boot Camps, as well as impressive scientific and social programme and faculty, to ensure a fulfilling participation.