The Minister of Health, Prof. Christian Chukwu, on Friday described trauma and disasters as the two major causes of death, next to infectious diseases, in Nigeria.

The minister said this during the inauguration of the Yusuf Ali Advanced Trauma Centre at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

Chukwu, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Health Emergency Response in the Federal Ministry of Health, John Kehinde, said the Federal Government had started a programme that would focus on the building of trauma centres in the six geopolitical zones as part of its effort to address the problem.

He said the programme involved the provision of emergency ambulance services and the establishment of a school of paramedics.

Built and donated by Ali to the UITH, the centre was said to have cost over N200m.

Chukwu said that while efforts were being made to check violence and recurrence of disasters in the country, it was also necessary that Nigerians should be prepared to manage both natural and man-made disasters across the country.

Commending Ali for donating the facility, the minister called for greater private-public partnership to advance healthcare delivery in the country.

"My administration has underscored that next to infectious diseases, trauma and disasters are the main killers of Nigerians in recent times," Chukwu said.

Ali called on other Nigerians to partner with government at all levels to promote good and accessible healthcare delivery in the country, as well as alleviate poverty in the country.

In his speech, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, said that accident-related trauma cases were common in the area because of the strategic location of the state as the gateway between the Northern and Southern Nigeria.

While reiterating the commitment of his administration to advanced healthcare services in Kwara, the governor said the opening of the centre would enhance the UITH’s capacity to deal with trauma cases and other health emergencies.

He called for greater synergy between the private and public sectors to accelerate development in the state and in Nigeria.