Timothy Ndubisi Menakaya | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Health | |
| In office 1999–2001 | |
| Preceded by | Jubril Ayinla |
| Succeeded by | Alphonsus Nwosu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 May 1934 Umunya |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
Timothy Ndubisi Menakaya (born 27 May 1934) is a Nigerian physician and politician who served as Minister of Health from 1999 to 2001. [1] [2]
Menakaya was born on 27 May 1934 and hails from Umunya,in present-day Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State. He attended Dennis Memorial Grammar School and later earned a degree in medicine and surgery at the University of Bologna,Italy,in 1964. [1] [3] He is a fellow of the West African College of Physicians. [4]
Menakaya practiced medicine in Italy and the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria in 1966,where he served as a medical officer in Eastern Nigeria. [5] He served in the Biafran Army during the Nigerian Civil War. [3] He worked with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha at Holy Rosary Maternity Hospital and St. Charles Borromeo Hospital. In 1974,he founded Menax Hospital in Onitsha. [6] Menakaya held leadership positions in various industrial,educational and healthcare boards. [4]
Menakaya served as Nigeria's Minister of Health from 1999 to 2001,during the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo. [7] He worked on various health reforms and initiatives aimed at improving the country's healthcare systems,including the roll back malaria programme and reforms in the National Health Insurance Scheme. [1] [3] He also expanded public health awareness efforts and investigated claims of a vaccine cure for HIV/AIDS. [1] [8]
Menakaya's contributions to the medical field have earned him several honours,including the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) and various awards from medical associations and civic organisations. [4] [7]
Menakaya is married with children including Dr. Chichi Menakaya. [3] [9]