From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Ex-finance Minister, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, has initiated plans to expand primary health care service delivery in northern states in his commitment to assist the government provide quality and affordable healthcare services for the people.
He said initiatives would be championed through the collective efforts of his friends and family including former President, Goodluck Jonathan, and serving government officials, who are expected to participate in the public presentation of a book he authored titled “Public Policy and Agent Interests: Perspectives from the Emerging World”.
He explained that the book is a unique publication on both the impetus for, and impediments to growth and development in emerging economies, which provides a fascinating and penetrating insight into the workings of government and the boardroom, in terms of policy formulation and implementation, economic management as well as the overall growth paradigm in the developing world, with Nigeria as a case study.
He added that the book is also an account of the interactions between the government, its agencies and the private sector, and how such engagements could impact national growth, investments and the overall performance of the economy.
And expectedly, it will serve as valuable reference material for policymakers, technocrats, business leaders and public officials on the workings of government and governance, and the tradeoffs in designing and implementing public policy.
Chairman of organizing committee, Sadiq Usman, told journalists at a press conference, in Abuja, at the weekend, that the desire of the former Minister to expand the healthcare service delivery was due to the growing need to assist Nigerians at the lower cadre to assess quality and affordable healthcare services for quality living.
He said: “Since he left public office, Dr. Usman has immersed himself in community development and philanthropy. He established a Community Health Centre in Kano that has been providing affordable basic medical services to the people.
“A few years ago, the hospital went into partnership with the French charity, Medicins Sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders) which has helped to further address the issue of maternal and neonatal mortality in Kano.
“Today, the health centre is helping to deliver over 200 babies a month, which is second only to the much bigger Murtala Mohammed Hospital, Kano. But this time, more health care facilities would be established in across several other locations in the north and even beyond courtesy of the proceeds that would come from the book launch.”
Meanwhile, the ex finance Minister through the Shamsudeen Usman Foundation has established of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Technology Development Centre that will focus on IT skills development, innovation and economic development.
He said: “The Foundation’s mission is to provide a platform for individuals, corporate organizations, researchers and even students to explore and develop advanced AI and technological solutions for real-world challenges.”