The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Development, Prof. Muhammad Pate has inaugurated Rehabilitation Technical Working Group (RTWG) to ensure the development and implementation of a rehabilitation strategic plan in Nigeria.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, the minister, acknowledged the significance of developing framework that would fast-track disability inclusivity in health, emphasizing the need to address disability barriers in its planning and implementation to achieving rehabilitation 2030 initiative.

The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, while calling on the members to deliver the strategic plan within the stated timeline, also stressed the importance of collaboration, knowledge sharing and expertise within the membership.

In his acceptance speech, the chairman of the working group, Prof. Adefoyeje Olayemi, expressed confidence that the group will execute its set objectives with due diligence and societal necessities, bearing that the task is national priority in fulfilling the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s led administration in the health sector.

Also speaking, the Registrar of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria, (MRTB) Prof. Rufai Ahmad highlighted the various interventions of the coordinating minister towards strengthening rehabilitation in the country’s health system.

He, however, stated that more is needed to be done towards integrating rehabilitation in primary health care and establishing rehabilitation centres in all the zones of the country. The fifteen member rehabilitation technical working group are expected to work closely with MRTB to ensure the development and implementation of rehabilitation strategic plan associated monitoring framework that would align with Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.