The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, says a reliable electricity supply is crucial to saving lives and safeguarding the future of Nigeria’s health sector.

Mr Pate said this in a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Alaba Balogun, ahead of the National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Power in the Health Sector scheduled for September 9 and 10.

According to the statement, the dialogue, organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power, has “Powering Health Through Public-Private Synergy: Energising Nigeria’s Health Sector for the Future” as the theme.

Mr Pate said that power was health, and without reliable electricity, vaccines spoil, surgeries stall, and lives are lost.

“This dialogue is about securing Nigeria’s health facilities with sustainable energy to save lives today and safeguard our future,” Mr Pate said.

The Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako, stated that the dialogue aimed to find real solutions that benefit patients and frontline healthcare workers.

“A hospital without power is a hospital without hope. This dialogue is not just about policy; it is about delivery.”

Also commenting, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu described it as a landmark step that would make the health sector more attractive to investors.

“This collaboration is a landmark step towards a future where Nigeria’s health sector is energised through sustainable, climate-smart systems.

“It sends a clear signal to investors that the sector is open, viable, and ready for transformation,” Mr Adelabu stated.

President Bola Tinubu will attend the two-day event as the special guest of honour, where a power and health compact is expected to be signed to reaffirm the government’s commitment to uninterrupted power supply to tertiary health institutions.

According to the ministry, the dialogue is expected to assess the country’s power policy environment, showcase renewable energy and backup solutions, strengthen public-private partnerships, and promote innovative financing models for affordable electricity in health facilities.

It is also expected to develop a collaborative implementation and accountability framework for power interventions across all levels of care.

The dialogue will bring together policymakers, energy experts, healthcare leaders, development partners, and private sector innovators to address the urgent need for sustainable, reliable, and climate-smart energy solutions across Nigeria’s health facilities.

It will explore and promote innovative financing models that unlock affordable, renewable, and sustainable electricity solutions for public and private health facilities in Nigeria, ensuring energy access that is climate-smart, cost-effective, and aligned with the delivery of essential health services at all levels of care.

(NAN)