The Oyakhilome Bello Foundation on Thursday in Abuja said it has concluded arrangements to collaborate with the Ministry of Health to support effective healthcare delivery at the grass-root level.

Mr Oyakhilome Bello, founder of the foundation, said this during an interview in Abuja.

Mr Bello, who is also the All Progressives Congress U.S. National Youth Leader, said the collaboration is to help the Federal Government through the ministry drive its health programmes and policies to the grass-roots.

He recalled that President Bola Tinubu had said that his administration would prioritise and improve on Nigeria’s health sector through massive investments and increased funds to the sector in the 2024 budget.

Mr Bello said the government alone could not meet the healthcare needs of Nigerians, hence the need for effective collaboration with non-governmental organisations.

He decried the poor healthcare services in the rural area, and the inability of the less privileged to access medical attention, especially in hard to reach areas.

He said the foundation had already begun a free medical outreach in the six geopolitical zones of the country as a way of taking healthcare to the people, starting with the Federal Capital Territory.

To achieve its goal, Mr Bello said the foundation was collaborating with healthcare professionals, organisations and government bodies to ensure evolution of healthcare policies that prioritise the needs of the target audience.

He stressed that health is wealth and education is fundamental to the development of anyone in life as well as societies.

He stated, “We are committed to the betterment of society in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu with specific focus on health education, youth empowerment and wealth creation for women, youths and the less-privileged.

“We have been actively involved in various community-driven programmes, including initiatives to promote health counselling, women and youth development among vulnerable population.’’

He expressed optimism that the foundation and the ministry could work towards the shared objective of empowering youth, creating sustainable opportunities and fostering development of the country.

Also speaking, the foundation’s National Coordinator, Olaniyi Ilori, said its officials had met with senior officials of the Ministry of Health to discuss healthcare Initiatives.

He said the meeting discussed collaborative efforts in improving healthcare access and quality in rural communities and Nigeria generally.

“The foundation’s team, comprised experts in healthcare delivery, community outreach and women’s empowerment, presented innovative initiatives and explored potential partnerships with the ministry.

“The meeting marked a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to empower lives through innovation and opportunities. We are confident that through collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, we can make a real difference in the lives of millions of Nigerians,” Mr Ilori said.

According to him, the foundation has successful track records in mobilising resources and volunteers for medical outreach and data-driven insights into prevalent health challenges.

He said the foundation has been sponsoring medical outreach to some states of the federation, including the FCT as a way of reaching out to the people, but needed to collaborate with the ministry.

This, he said, was critical to enable it to reach members of the public who might not have the resources and time to go to health centres to access healthcare.

(NAN)