Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole has praised the efforts the security agencies put in place for the success of emergency response to the humanitarian crisis in the state.
According to the minister, the health and humanitarian emergency response in Borno state was only possible in the hard reach areas of the state due to the gallant efforts put into liberating the communities hitherto in the hands of the insurgents.
The minister who spoke at the presentation of the midterm review of Health and Nutrition Emergency Response Project in Borno State at the Multi-purpose Conference Hall of the Government House Maiduguri said the military and other security agencies deserve commendation for making sure health personale get access to the hard to reach areas.
“The military and other security agencies have made this work possible. Particular commendation must to given to our security agencies for their efforts in liberating those communities in the hands of the insurgents which has made it possible for the health workers and other humanitarian intervention easier for us,” the minister said.
While setting the agenda for the meeting, the Prof. Adewale explained that Malaria, Diarhoea diseases, Upper Respiratory Tract infections were the three common diseases that were identified during the assessment period.
He noted that the Federal Ministery of Health through the FMOH Humanitarian Support Team will continue to:
• To Provide Coordination and Support to the State to manage the emergency response initiative.
• To strengthen the state`s capacity to undertake integrated supportive supervision in health facilities and communities;
• To strengthen the logistics and supply chain for medicines and other health commodities;
• Assist and support the strengthening of the health management information system;
• To work with SMOH and WHO to rebuild the integrated disease surveillance and response system;
• To administer and manage the team of health personnel contracted to support with the delivery of health services in the State.
• Ensure cooperation with all local and international stakeholders under a unified command structure.
• To perform oversight responsibility for the control and coordination of the field activities, working in consultation with the SMOH.
• To articulate reports and areas of further intervention and resource mobilization for the consideration of the management of the Federal Ministry.
Speaking on the objectives of the MTR meeting, the minister informed that the meeting will comparatively analyse the HNER key performance indicators which would form the basis of assessment of the project, adding that , “ we intend to assess and achieve the following parameters:-
The Level of implementation Common ailments noted during course of implementation The Efficacy of this intervention to the project goals Identification and addressing of project bottlenecks Take necessary steps to improve on project implementation going forward”.
In his address, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima commended the joint ministries committee on humanitarian response in the state and the level of supervision put in the program.
His words: “Our gathering today, couldn’t have been possible without the efficient role played by the joint team from the Federal Ministry of Health and our own State Ministry of Health and the various implementing teams who defied all odds to go to Local Government Areas in the country side to render nutritional intervention to the most vulnerable communities liberated by our gallant armed forces. Judging from favorable health indices now being reported across the state particularly, the marked improvements in status of Nutrition, it is clear that our collaborative efforts are paying off in the Health sector. I salute the courage and sacrifices of our field men and women who move round the State for the sake of humanity.
“I understand that today’s Mid-Term Review Meeting is to assess implementation of the HEALTH AND NUTRITION EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECT launched earlier on. This is a positive step. As someone from the private sector, I can say that Review and supervision are twin bridges to success in implementing any initiative. In fact, lack of adequate supervision is mostly responsible for failure of most programmes in the public sector.I will therefore urge stakeholders to use today’s Mid-Term Review to, in their usual meaningful ways, recommend ways to strength supervision and implementation of the project. Our goal should be how to increase beneficiaries without compromising standards,” Gov. Shettima said.
Kashim also took time to remind the Federal Government on some of the promises made to Borno state which include the promises for the establishment of a Radio Diagnostic Centre at the State Specialist Hospital; the establishment of a Burns Centre at Umaru Shehu Ultra-Modern Hospital and the Completion of the Drugs Store under Construction at Molai, stressing that those promises if fulfilled will bring a lot of positive impact on the health of Borno people.
Goodwill message were presented by the WHO, UNICEF, the Representative of the minister of State Budget and Economic Planning among others.
