Matawalle Seeks Stronger U.S. Support to Boost Military Healthcare in Nigeria
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, has called on the United States to sustain and expand its support for strengthening the medical capacity of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Matawalle made the appeal on Monday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command at the Ministry of Defence, Ship House.
The delegation, led by Commanding General Major General Paula C. Lodi, visited Nigeria to mark the 20th anniversary of the partnership between the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (MODHIP) and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Africa (WRAIR Africa).
Expressing appreciation, Lodi commended the minister and the Director-General of MODHIP, Brigadier General Solebo, for sustaining the collaboration. She noted that the partnership had been instrumental in advancing military healthcare research and improving medical interventions in Nigeria.
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Responding, Matawalle praised the United States for its enduring cooperation with Nigeria, stressing that such collaborations had continued to strengthen the country’s defence health system.
“Nigeria and the United States share a strong and enduring relationship, and this bond continues to grow even stronger through collaborations like MODHIP and WRAIR Africa,” he said.
He particularly appealed for additional U.S. support in human capital development to further enhance the skills and expertise of Nigerian medical professionals. The minister also commended Brigadier General Solebo for his leadership in driving MODHIP’s successes.
During their visit, the U.S. delegation is scheduled to tour the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to interact with medical personnel and assess ongoing projects.
Other members of the delegation include Shannon Lucy, Director WRAIR–Africa; Monnet Bushner, Command Sergeant Major MRAIR; Major Ashleigh Roberds, Executive Officer to the Commanding General; Sandhya Vasan, VPHJF Global ID (USA); Helina Meri, Country Director WRAIR–Nigeria; Zubairu Aliyu Elayo, Acting Director HJFMRI; and Yakubu Adamu, Deputy Country Director, WRAIR–Africa Nigeria.
By PRNigeria
