Nigeria has received its share of the second consignment of Covid-19 critical Medical supplies procured by the West African Health Organisation, WAHO, for the benefit of all ECOWAS member States.
At the handover ceremony in Abuja, the Director General of WAHO, Professor Stanley Okolo said that the donation was part of the Organisation’s mandate which is to support ECOWAS countries in their National Health response.
Congratulating Nigeria for receiving its first batch of Covid-19 vaccines, Professor Stanley said that the Medical supplies would add more credence in the fight against the virus.
“The provision of critical medical supply to aid the fight against the pandemic is one of the contributions we make towards achieving the regional health agenda at WAHO. We, at WAHO have set up ourselves to support both strategically and operationally. Vaccines are now beginning to arrive, and that is very good . That does not detract from the need to continually be vigilant, to support frontline workers in terms of some of the goods that we have here are Personal Protective Equipment,” Professor Okolo said.
He also said that ”WAHO has over half a million diagnostic test kits to be distributed to African countries.”
Receiving the Items on behalf of the Nigerian Government, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, thanked WAHO for keeping its promise.
Mustapha also re-stated Nigerian Government’s commitment to ensure the supplies are distributed.
“I say thank you to WAHO who in close collaboration with Government, Departments, Ministries and partners continues to coordinate the Covid-19 response by providing the much needed technical, material and financial support to ECOWAS member states, one of which is Nigeria,” he stated.
He reassured WAHO that the health supplies would go a long way in containing the impact of Covid-19 related deaths in Nigeria.
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said Nigeria was on the verge of defeating Covid-19.
He noted that the strategies put in place by the Government to fight the virus was yielding results.
The Minister also expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon be producing its Covid-19 Vaccines.
The items donated include; Face Masks, Hand Sanitisers, Medical Hand Gloves, Face Shield and other items.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
