As it marks 75 years of service to humanity across the World, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has been commended for ensuring that the vulnerable people in society receive the best of medical outreaches.
The WHO was particularly praised for always rising up to the occasion of disease surveillance and prevention which are vital issues in promoting quality healthcare service delivery.
The assertion was made by the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu during an advocacy visit to him in his Palace by the State Coordinating office of the World Health Organisation (WHO) led by the State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sabiu Abdu Gwalabe and the WHO Coordinator, Dr Mahmud Sa’idu.
The Emir express satisfaction with the performance of WHO as the leading UN Health agency stressing that its positive impact has been felt across the World in the past 75 years.
Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu then charged the state office of WHO to ensure more surveillance activities in order to adequately combat infectious diseases that are daily claiming the lives of people in the state.
He assured that the traditional institutions will continue to be partners in whatever capacity they can in the promotion of quality healthcare service delivery in Bauchi state.
Earlier, State Commissioner of Health, Dr Sabiu Abdu Gwalabe told the Emir that WHO as the leading health organisation in the world has contributed immensely to the well-being of people through its numerous interventions.
The Commissioner stressed that WHO in Bauchi state, has assisted the government in various areas of health surveillance and disease control as well as supply of health commodities when necessary.
He particularly commended WHO for standing firm and resolute in the fight against polio to the time Nigeria was declared a polio-free country.
In his remarks, Bauchi State Coordinator of WHO, Dr Mahmud Sa’idu told the Emir that, the World Health Organization (WHO), in the last 75 years, has been working dedicatedly with member states, including Nigeria, in improving public health.
He said that the big idea is that healthcare should not be a luxury to anyone irrespective of where they live stressing that the WHO’s commitment to ‘Health for All’ is hinged on the 1948 founding constitution that all humans are equal and enshrined in ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being at all ages. Nigeria is a member state of the United Nations and the WHO charter.
Mahmud Sa’idu added that throughout its 75 years of existence, WHO has always strived to keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable by championing public health transformative agenda for achieving Universal Health Coverage for all.
Concerning its triple billion goals to ensure that a billion people benefit from universal health coverage, protect a billion more people from health emergencies, and provide a further billion people with better health and well-being, WHO Nigeria in collaboration with the government has been achieving notable strides in keeping the people safe and serving the vulnerable population.
He said that the goal to achieve Health For All remains important today, as it was 75 years ago. For WHO, this remains a pathway to achieving SDG 3, reinforced by 16 other SDGs to be attained by 2030.
According to him, some of the notable successes are: Nigeria was certified Guinea Worm free by WHO in December 2013, Nigeria and the WHO AFRO Region were certified wild polio-free in August 2020 while in May 1980, the Global Commission for the Certification of Smallpox Eradication.
The WHO Coordinator further said that in Bauchi state, WHO has continued to provide technical support to the state including disease surveillance and outbreak response; routine immunization; PHC revitalization; health systems strengthening as well as maternal, child and reproductive health.
WHO also provides technical support in Malaria, HIV and TB control and Gender-based violence.
Mahmud Sa’idu concluded that “Our 75th anniversary is an opportunity to look back at the public health successes that have improved quality of life during the past decades. It is also an opportunity to motivate action to tackle the health challenges of today and the future.”
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