Japa: Medical, Nursing schools’ enrollment rises to 64,000 – Minister

Prof Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, announced an increase in the annual enrollment quota for medical, nursing, and other health professional schools from 28,000 to 64,000.

This update was shared during a sectoral ministerial press briefing in Abuja to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office.

Prof Pate emphasized that while this increase is a positive step, it’s crucial for the education sector and states to enhance infrastructure, training, and resources to produce more healthcare workers. This step is essential as there’s a need to replenish the healthcare workforce due to attrition, ensuring adequate service provision for the country’s population.

Regarding Primary Health Care Centres, the minister highlighted that 1,400 centres can now provide skilled birth attendants, and over 2,400 health workers (including doctors, nurses, and midwives) have been recruited to deliver essential health services in rural areas.

Furthermore, Prof Pate mentioned that the Federal Government has disbursed the initial N25bn of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund through agencies like the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the National Health Insurance Authority.

He stressed the importance of states adhering to fiduciary guidelines to ensure efficient resource allocation and noted that 23 states have already received these funds, with the rest expected to follow suit soon.