IT IS MY PLEASURE to join you today on the occasion of the 2019 Health Week, taking place here at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. I appreciate the organizers of the event for inviting me to chair this all-important celebration.
Let me welcome the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. E.OsagieEhanire, and other team of officials from the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as stakeholders to this auspicious event.
Let me commend the organizers of this all-important occasion for this laudable initiative, aimed at providing our Health personnel the desired opportunity to brainstorm on critical issues associated with healthy development in Nigeria. Indeed, the occasion is also intended to provide a platform for Health practitioners to solely share experience and exchange ideas on emerging challenges and prospects in the Health sector.
I am informed that the theme of this year’s Health Week is “Oxygen is essential to Life”.I applaud the choice of the theme for this year’s Health Week, considering the
relevance of Oxygen in saving lives in critical situations. Distinguished guests, ladies, and gentlemen, there is no gainsaying the fact that Health is Wealth. Without good
health, no life will exist. As you are aware, Oxygen is the most abundant chemical element in human anatomy accounting for not less than 65 percent of the body’s mass.
Indeed, it is a life supporting component in every living being. I hasten to add that Oxygen is consumed by both humans and plants, especially, during respiration for self-preservation and sustenance.
Although not a medical professional, it is pertinent to state that Oxygen is essential in the respiratory process and assists towards treating people with breathing complications. Oxygen is ultimately the food that allows our cells to produce energy. We have observed with dismay that human development over the years has contributed to the phenomenon of climate change, including forest destruction and other industrial activities which affects the ozone layers and the attendant negative consequences on
human health. I believe that this occasion will avail participants the opportunity to come up with innovative and workable solutions that will revolutionize our Health sector in line with best global practices. It is also our expectation that your resolution at this event will enhance professionalism, as well as provide solutions to the critical challenges affecting the Health sector in Nigeria. Perhaps, I should add that issues related to health and malfunctioning of equipment, including the issue of the provision of adequate Oxygen to support parents in critical condition, vis-à-vis quackery in the profession should be analysed and possible solutions advanced to address them for the desired wellbeing of the country.
