A centre of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is to be established in Bauchi State to serve the North-East zone of the country in the management and investigation of an infections disease outbreak.
The plan for the establishment was announced by the Director-General of the centre, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu when he received in audience, Bauchi State governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, who paid him an advocacy visit at the Administrative Headquarters of the Centre in Abuja on Monday.
The Director-General enjoined the state government to provide the required manpower in order to achieve the desired objectives assuring that as soon as such is done, the centre will take off.
Chikwe Ihekweazu also said that already the centre has declared its interest to support the governor to ensure effective implementation of his health policies beneficial to the citizens of the state.
He added, ” Your Excellency, even before your visit to us today, you have our commitment, let’s work together so as to ensure effective service delivery”.
The DG also said that ” Human resources are one of the major challenges in the healthcare sector, I hope you will provide the required manpower. We will soon lay down our foundation in Bauchi state to manage the outbreak of diseases.”
Chikwe Ihekweazu further said that the centre is working in close collaboration with critical stakeholders to manage any outbreak of diseases across the country.
Speaking earlier, Sen Bala Mohammed described the plan as a welcome development saying that the resolve of the centre to establish its Zonal centre in the state was a good initiative and pledged to provide the necessary facilities for a smooth take-off within the shortest possible time.
The governor added that ” Our visit to you is to appreciate you for your commitment towards reducing the infection of diseases in the country and to intimate you that we are ever ready to work with you for effective provision of healthcare services in the state”.
Bala Mohammed also said that he is currently working on accessing alternative funding from relevant bodies through the support of multilateral bodies and global organisations working in the state.
To achieve this, the governor said that his administration will engage religious and community leaders to educate citizens on the preventive mechanism against infection with diseases.
He said that “Because of the escalation of the outbreak of Lassa fever in Bauchi State and the death of one of the district Heads due to the Lassa Fever infection coupled with the infection of the diseases by some medical personnel, I decided to cut off my official visit to Germany by coming to solicit the support of the Federal Government through the DG National Center for Disease Control and ED National primary health care development agency.”
The governor was accompanied by the State Commissioner of Agriculture and Rural Development, Pharmacist Samaila Burga, the Executive Chairman, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed and his SSA on Media, Muktar Gidado as contained in a statement by Lawal Muazu Bauchi, S. A New Media to the Bauchi state governor.
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