The Nigerian Government in collaboration with Kano state Government in North West Nigeria have expressed the commitment for a final push to Polio eradication through a combined efforts with Local Governments and Partners.
The commitment was reached in Kano when the Country’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Professor Ali Pate led a delegation of Gates and Aliko Dangote foundations discussed with Kano State Government.
According to the Minister, the government at the centre is determined not only to end polio but also addressing maternal mortality in Kano state as well as improving the health of Nigerians.
This he noted, can be achieved through collaborations and participation of the states and local governments areas.
“We are here today along side partners such as Gates foundation, Aliko Dangote foundation to discuss issues of finishing the work of polio eradication and also to address other complementary investment that the federal government is making a long side the Kano state Government so that we can improve the health sector and improve the health of Nigerians, to make things easier for Nigerian people.”
The Minister explained that, Nigeria’s Health sector is undergoing transformation through the heath renewal investment initiatives unveiled by President Tinubu adding that the strategy requires synergy with states and all parties to improve the health of Nigerians.
Professor Pate said, “Some of the things we are doing includes reducing maternal mortality, because many local governments including here in Kano have high level of mothers dieing do to pregnancy related issues.”
He lauded Kano State initiatives to health by improving it’s primary health care centers.
“We are supplementing with the front line health workers, the Kano state Government is also trying to do that, we will provide through the medical relief program commodities that can ease the pain of Nigerians when they come to access health care services, we are also using some of the federal facilities here, we are improving some of the general hospitals, we are able to deliver some of the emergency services for women who need it as well as teaching hospitals that are supporting the people of Kano in terns of delivering services.”
Professor Pate spoke on other federal government efforts towards improving health of Nigerians.
“There are other efforts that we are doing but we have to do it hand in hand.
“As you know, the president approved a one billion dollar concessional financing that was obtained through the federal government, all states are eligible they are asked to participate including Kano state. That will provide incentives to improve primary health care, to improve maternal and child care outcomes, to improve emergency services. So we have to work hand in hand in line with the compact that we signed with all the state in our federation.
“I believed that, you are aware of the some of the changes that happening with some of the bilaterally supported Programmes around HIV, TB and Malaria.”
Receiving the Minister on behalf of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the Secretary to the State Government Umar Ibrahim expressed readiness in complementing efforts of the federal government.
He noted that, previous partnership between Gates and Dangote foundation have yielded positive results in enhancing the health sector.
The Governor noted that despite the successes recorded, much needed to be done in achieving total eradication of polio in the State.
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