FG spends over N4bn on humanitarian projects in Northeast

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Health has spent over N4 billion in the on-going humanitarian crisis in the Northeast region of Nigeria.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole made this known during the Commemoration of the 2017 World Humanitarian Day in Abuja recently.

Prof. Adewole noted that N4 billion was used in purchasing relief materials including drugs and medical consumables, hospital equipment, capacity building and deployment of volunteer health workers.

He added that a two-pronged approach was adopted solely to provide basic medical services to the affected population and strengthen the pillars of the health system.

The minister stated that the Federal Ministry of Health has responded to the humanitarian situation within Nigeria by strengthening the Special Project Department and appointing a Substantive Director to coordinate health related response to the on-going humanitarian crisis within the country.

According to him, the ongoing humanitarian crisis was unprecedented and protracted with Borno State as the epicentre, adding that a broad Northeast Health Sector Humanitarian Crisis Response Strategic Plan (NEHSHRSP) was developed with a primary objective of repositioning the health system within the region.

He informed that there was a Rapid Response Team tasked with the responsibility to develop a six month health and nutritional plan in Borno State to address the rapid decline in health and nutritional indices being experienced.

The plan, he said was developed, approved, implemented and now been extended by another six months due to the giant strides achieved such as increased access to quality healthcare to communities.

He enumerated the achievements of the project which includes: diagnosis and treatment of about 15,000 cases of malaria in host communities and IDP camps; provision of family planning commodities in host communities and IDP camps to about 4,000 women; provision of quality antenatal care to 14,355 women in host communities and IDP camps; and delivery of 1,100 babies through skilled birth attendants in host communities and IDP camps.

Prof. Adewole thanked all the humanitarians including the Nigeria Security Agencies (NSA) out there providing care in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria and the world.

He also prayed for the repose of the souls of the humanitarians who lost their lives most especially our own Mr. Mustapha Modu, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Health and our gallant Security Officers who paid the ultimate price of sacrificing their lives for our great country.