The World Health Organisation (WHO), on Monday donated drugs and consumables worth N70 million to Jigawa Government.
WHO Coordinator in the state, Dr Bello Inuwa, said the gesture was to support the government’s effort to prevent the outbreak of diseases among flood victims living in temporary camps.
Inuwa also expressed the hope that the gesture would strengthen the relationship between WHO and Jigawa government.
According to him, the flood affected 16 local government areas and displaced thousands of persons, prompting WHO to extend support to the state to strengthen its effort to prevent disease outbreaks.
He commended the state government for its efforts in improving healthcare delivery system, including creation, and upgrading of primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities, as well as recruitment of health workers.
“This, we believe will revitalise the healthcare delivery system in the state and also be catalytic to a lot of efforts the government and partners are making towards universal health coverage,” he said.
According to him, WHO is working globally to save three billion lives in line with its country cooperation strategy.
Responding, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Mohammed Kainuwa, commended WHO for its kind gesture, saying it will assist reduce the suffering of the affected persons.
Kainuwa said about 110 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently residing in government institutions and require a daily supply of clean water and sanitation to prevent disease outbreaks.
“These IDPs are staying in schools, hospitals and mosques, but they require daily supply of clean water and sanitation to prevent further outbreaks of diseases like gastroenteritis, which our surveillance officers are aware of,” Kainuwa said.
The commissioner, therefore, urged WHO to intensify its surveillance of Mpox, cholera, diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
He said this was critical to bridge the gap in routine immunisation and reduce the number of zero-dose children.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items donated by WHO includes malaria rapid diagnostic test kits, Amoxicillin tablets, anti-malarial drugs, Mycoten cream, Zinc sulfate, and oral rehydration solutions (ORS), among others. (NAN)
