Professor Adewole: Nigeria’s minister of health

The European Union (EU) on Friday handed over projects worth N3.8 billion geared toward strengthening primary healthcare and reduction of childhood morbidity and mortality to the Federal Government.

Mr Ketil Karlsen, EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, handed over the project to the Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire at Gui community FCT.

Karlsen said the overall objective was to contribute to the reduction of sickness and death due to vaccines preventable diseases.

He said the project was in addition to N7.2 provided in 2001 toward Polio eradication using immunisation as a window of opportunity to strengthen the primary healthcare system to provide high quality preventive health services to all Nigerians.

He emphasised that the N3.8billion project was under EU Support to Immunisation Governance in Nigeria (EU-SIGN) initiative.

Karlsen identified the area of interventions to include construction and renovation of cold stores and health facilities as well as supply of 29 vehicles and solar power generators to improve vaccine cold chain.

“The amount was used to fund the procurement of 29 vehicles and solar refrigerators as well as construction and renovation of health facilities and cold stores in 23 states of the federation and the FCT.

“The overall goal of EU-SIGN project is to contribute to the reduction of childhood mortality and morbidity in Nigeria due to vaccines preventable diseases.

“Expected results were to ensure improved effective routine immunisation management systems in the states and local government areas.

“It was also for improved delivery of routine immunisation services through provision of infrastructure, transportation and immunisation equipment. Reduction of spread of polio infections targeted at eradicating polio in Nigeria.

“Also it was meant for improved information and knowledge generation for routine immunisation operational research to drive policies, planning and programme implementation,’’ he said.

Karlsen said the intervention would ensure quality routine immunisation and interrupting the spread of poliomyelitis in Nigeria.

He explained that in order to realise the set objectives the EU support project had used both hard and soft ware solutions to tackle identified challenges.

He described vaccines security as one of the strategies of controlling communicable diseases and saving lives of millions of Nigerians.

According to him, efforts to increase capacity of health centres will be meaningless when there is no supply of potent vaccines to give to children and mothers as well as avoiding problems of stock outs at all levels.

“A functional vaccine distribution system together with effective supervision ensures disease prevention and reduces human suffering and death.

“For the system to be efficient, relevant government agencies need reliable communication and transport means.

“We consequently hope the vehicles procured will go a long way for the states to improve vaccine distribution, enhance supervision, undertake disease surveillance and respond quickly to outbreaks of diseases,’’ he said.

Dr Faisal Shuaibu, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said EU has been an important partner in strengthening our efforts to improve primary healthcare system to provide better health for the populace.

Shuaibu noted that EU through it initiatives had built the capacity of over 1,400 health workers on various aspects of routine immunisation services including support for polio eradication.

Describing the project as a seven years said it commenced in 2011 and to elapse next year.

He assured of adequate deployment of the items to concerned states to boost efficiency of service delivery and ensure that every child is reached with immunisation services.

“The EU funded project is to support the efforts of the Federal Government to reduce the burden of vaccines preventable diseases, polio eradication and strengthen the primary health care system.

“The 23 focal states supported are Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi, Edo, FCT, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Osun Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara,’’ he said.

Inaugurating the projects, Ehanire commended the efforts of EU and described strengthening primary health care systems as the priority of the present administration.

The minister pledged federal government commitment toward sustainability of the projects and realisation of the set goal. (NAN)