Tsafe Health Varsity: Sen. Bilbis Giving Education A Priority
By: Musa Yusuf
When Senator Bilbis set off on the journey to transform the College of Heath Sciences Tsafe into a specialised University of Health Sciences, not many believed he could pull off. It is, therefore, heartening to see it come to pass and to witness Nigeria’s progress as it recognizes the imperative of refining tertiary education to meet emerging developmental needs.
This refinement has led to the establishment of specialised universities to train manpower, conduct research, and offer community services tailored to specific societal needs. One such significant development is the passing of the bill to establish the Federal University of Health Sciences and Technology, Tsafe, Zamfara State.
Like many before it, the establishment of these institutions is facilitated by democratic governance, with the National Assembly passing the necessary bills and the President signing them into law. The recent passing of the bill for the Federal University of Health Sciences and Technology, Tsafe, by the Nigerian Senate is a testament to this process.
When assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this university will elevate the Tsafe College of Health Sciences and Technology to university status. This transformation is crucial for Zamfara State, the North-West region, and Nigeria as a whole, as it will promote research, training, and teaching of healthcare personnel.
The initiative, spearheaded by Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis of Zamfara Central Senatorial District, addresses the severe healthcare challenges in the North-West. Senator Bilbis recognised the necessity of such a specialised institution to tackle the region’s healthcare crisis exacerbated by terrorism, banditry, and a shortage of healthcare workers.
The public hearing for the bill, which held on May 13, 2024, underscored the urgent need for this university. The North-West, plagued by healthcare worker shortages and disease outbreaks, stands to benefit immensely from this institution, which will complement existing specialised universities across Nigeria.
The World Health Organization recommends one doctor per 600 patients, yet Nigeria has a dismal ratio of four doctors per 10,000 patients. This underscores the critical need for more health institutions to train medical personnel, to plug the gap left by the many health workers leaving the country in search of pastures new.
The Senate’s approval of the Federal University of Health Sciences and Technology, Tsafe, is a significant legislative achievement and the eventual assent by the president will serve the expand the frontiers of legislative – executive relationships, the best in recent years.
The president signing the bill into would ultimately be a demonstration his commitment towards addressing Nigeria’s healthcare challenges and fulfilling a crucial promise not just to the people of Zamfara but the entire North-West.
For Zamfara and the Northwest region that has been under the crush of activities of nonstate actors who have left death, desolation and despair in their wake, this good news facilitated by Senator Bilbis is a breath of fresh air indeed, one that every citizen of Zamfara and rest of the region should be proud of.
Ahead of the presidential assent, it is imperative for the people of Zamfara to know their champions. The federal university of Health Sciences, Tsafe present an opportunity not just education, but also employment and other value-added services that come with such establishments. The people of Zamfara must repay the government’s confidence by showing solidarity for this good cause, while ensuring that they do all within their powers to see it stand!
Yusuf writes from Gusau
