The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill to establish the Orthopedic Hospital in Dekina, Kogi State.
The Senate’s approval for the establishment of the federal health institution in Kogi followed the consideration of report presented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe.
Oloriegbe, in his presentation, observed that Nigeria is one of the densely populated countries in the world which “is plagued with poverty and an exceedingly high burden of disease.”
He said orthopaedics such as musculoskeletal disorders, spine disease, cancers, tumours and congenital defects are suffered by many citizens without adequate care.
He explained that orthopaedic hospitals are important in improving health care in patients, adding that locating one in Dekina, Kogi state, would bring healthcare closer to residents of densely populated urban and rural communities.
In a related development, a bill to establish the Federal College of Education, Bassambiri, Bayelsa State also scaled second reading.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Biobarakuma Degi -Eremienyo (Bayelsa East).
The Senate President referred the bill after it was considered to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work.
The Committee which is chaired by Senator Ahmad Baba Kaita is expected to turn in its report in four weeks.
