Former President Goodluck Jonathan has challenged governments at all levels to ensure that the healthcare needs of Nigerians meet the United Nations specifications on health.

He said that the COVID-19 pandemic has opened the eyes of everyone including administrators, politicians and professionals that health-related issues should no longer be taken for granted.

Jonathan who was in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State to flag-off the 2021 Physicians Week stated this on Tuesday at Ikot Ekpene Local Government.

He was in Akwa Ibom on the state Governor’s invitation to commission phase one of the 117-years old remodelled general hospitals.

He lauded the state Governor Udom Emmanuel for the provision of health infrastructures, adding that health security is paramount in the national security of the country.

He said, “Let me thank the governor for making it possible for me to link with this project, a hospital that has history, that has been completely renovated, redesigned, reconfigured for effective health care delivery.

“We commend the governor because health is key. When you are talking about national security, health security is quite prominent. The COVID-19 pandemic has opened the eyes of everybody -be you professionals, politicians, administrators- that health in the nation is key and we have to do everything possible to strengthen the infrastructure to deliver the health needs.”

The state commissioner of health, Prof Augustine Umoh, in his remarks, said the commissioning of the facility represents a milestone in Governor Udom Emmanuel’s commitment to the welfare needs in the area of health.