Health Ministry’s response, best and most productive of all FG Interventions in Borno – Gov. Kashim Shettima

… Governor announces Health Minister as Special Health Envoy to Borno State Govt

… Health Minister advocates for investment in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

The Borno State Government has described the Health Nutrition Intervention Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health as the best and productive programme of all interventions made by the Federal Government in the state. 

The Borno State Governor, His Excellency Alh Kashim Shetima made this known on Saturday 2^nd June, 2017 during the Mid Term meeting of the Health and Nutrition Emergency Response project in Maiduguri. Governor Shettima said that the programme has not only made tangible impact on the lives of his citizens but is helping to rebuild the health system in the state following the devastation by the Boko Haram terrorists for about 6 years.

“I dare to say, of all the interventions from the Federal side, the Health Response has simply been the best & most productive,” he said.  He also announced the appointment of the Minister of Health as the special envoy on health to Borno state.

The Governor also appreciated the President Muhammadu Buhari for showing commitment for the re-building of the North East Zone of the Country. He said despite the despite the present challenges in the state, his administration has been able to rebuild 50 Primary Healthcare Centers, 9 General hospitals as well as completing the first hospital dedicated to women and children in Borno State.

In his speech delivered earlier, the Hon. Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole said that the primary objective of the mid-term review of the Health and Nutrition Emergency Response project (HNERP) was to “comparatively analyse the HNERP key performance indicators which would form the basis of assessment.” He said the meeting offers the opportunity for improvements to be made over the other half of the programme.

“The primary objective of this mid term review meeting is to The Minister said the meeting would focus more on the Level of implementation, common ailments noted during course of implementation, the efficacy of the intervention to the project goals, identification and addressing of project bottlenecks as well as to take necessary steps to improve on project implementation,” Adewole said. “This colloquium is envisaged to proffer solutions to the identified bottlenecks so as to increase the capacity of achieving our goals.”

Adewole said that the Federal Ministry of Health observed the frequent treatment of diarrhoea and said it was preventable. He assured the governor that he would speak with the Ministers at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Environment to ensure people have good toilets and access to clean water.

“We cannot be treating diarrhoea & vomiting when in actual fact we should be preventing it,” Adewole said.

The Health and Nutrition Emergency Response is currently providing health services in the 25 accessible LGA in Borno State. The Minister commended the efforts of the Nigerian security agencies. According to him, a transparency and accountability framework was also developed to increase efficiency and ensure full achievement of the overall goals of the project through institutional involvement of the stakeholders in the implementation.

Boade Akinola (Mrs.)

Director, Media and Public Relations

Federal Ministry of Health