Niger State: Governor Bello’s Health Reform Agenda Receives Boost

In the Words of Ralph Lauren “A Leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done”.

The Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s efforts of combating preventable diseases and disabilities from tuberculosis and leprosy over the weekend received a boost with the donation of an operational vehicle by the Global Fund.

Presenting the keys to the customised 2-cabin Toyota Hillux truck, the Honourable Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole urged the recipient to judiciously make use of the good gesture to reenergise the fight against Tb, leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases in Niger State so as to limit their combined contribution to the country’s unacceptable morbidity and mortality. He stated that, the watchword should be to increase the Tb detection rate through increased surveillance, which according to him is the reason behind donating the surveillance vehicles to some selected states in the

country.
In his response, the representative of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello at the Niger State Ministry of Health and Health Services, Dr. Mustapha Jibril assured the Honourable Minister that, the diligence and doggedness holistic health reform agenda of the State including paying increased attention to emerging and remerging diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases will ensure that the purpose for which the vehicles were donated are achieved.

Dr. Jibril disclosed that, the Niger State Ministry of Health under the Change Mantra of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello is at the verge of unveiling an eight-point health reform agenda tagged NIGER HEALTH 1.0 which places greater emphasis on revitalizing the primary health care system as the base of an integrated network of care. He then gave glory to Almighty God while thanking the Global Fund and the Federal Ministry of Health for selecting Niger State as one of the 4 recipient states and promised to put the vehicle to maximum use in the pursuit of the purpose for which it was donated.

Earlier while briefing the Minister, the President of the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), told the Minister, the President of the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH), Professor Oladapo Alabi Ladipo disclosed that the selection of the 4 recipient states of Niger, Benue, Anambra and the Federal Capital Territory was done in recognition of the strong commitment shown by the states in the fight against Tb and leprosy.

In the same vein, Dr. Mustapha Jibril while on a familiarization visit to the country office of the Tb and Leprosy Mission in Abuja, reiterated the Ministry’s resolve to provide an enabling environment and level playing ground for all partners operating in the state’s health sector.

In his words “Mr. Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello’s visionary and masses-inclined style of leadership understands that effective partnership is a requisite for building a strong and sustainable health system which is the ultimate goal of the ongoing health reform in Niger State”.

He then commended the Mission for the years of support to the Niger State Government and particularly for the expansion of surgical facilities at the Chanchaga Leprosy Hospital which is currently being undertaken by the Mission.

Welcoming the Commissioner, leader of the Tuberculosis and Leprosy Mission in Nigeria, Dr. Onoh stated that in the Mission’s long history of partnership with Niger State, this was the first time a high level personality was visiting their country office from Niger State and expressed the Mission’s gratitude for the historic visit.

He described Dr. Jibril as a young dynamic and humble Commissioner whose commitment to reforming the health sector in Niger State is commendable and that is as a result of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s open door policy and participatory approach to leadership.

Dr. Onoh urged Mr. Governor and the Commissioner to keep up the good work while assuring him of the Mission’s continued support in his effort to reposition the Niger State health system for greater performance and better result.