From Rashidat Suleiman,Minna
The Niger State Deputy Governor and Chairman of Taask Force Committee Comrade Yakubu Garba has reiterated commitment of the present administration to supporting and improving measures that supports and promotes well-being of citizens across the state.
The Deputy Governor revealed this while addressing journalists after the 3rd quarter of the Primary Healthcare and Immunization Taskforce Committee meeting held in his office, Minna.
The Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Taskforce Committee on Primary Healthcare and Immunization, who was represented by the Commissioner ministry for Primary Healthcare Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Dangana stated that the meeting have looked at critical issues affecting the health sector including activities carried out by his ministry in many areas such as campaigns on Immunization and sensitization on the upcoming introduction of the measles-rubella vaccines in October.
He further disclosed that the ministry have also executed training of frontline healthcare workers towards improving service delivery and the implementation of Memorandum of understanding (MOUs) such as the GAVI/UNICEF.
The Chairman of the Taskforce Committee added that the current administration under His Excellency Governor Umar Muhammed Bago has placed concerted effort in collaborating with donor partners like UNICEF, WHO and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) in controlling the spread of Cholera outbreak in some parts of the state recently.
He maintained that with the activation of the state Emergency Response Disaster Preparedness Committee comprising of all relevant ministries including Health, Environment, Water resources, Humanitarian affairs, Information as well as Civil Society Organisations and establishment of Cholera Treatment Centres across the 25 LGAs of the state, providing free treatment, the government have been able to arrest the cholera epidemic.
He revealed that earlier over 200 victims admitted across the Treatment centers in six local government areas of the state, however, 14 casualties were recorded, but with massive awareness campaigns in the media and activeness of the healthcare workers, the cholera have been contained.
Comrade Garba also commended Her Excellency First Lady of the state, Hajiya Fatima Umar Bago for engaging stakeholders across the state in a robust discussion aimed at creating awareness and the need for compliance towards addressing health challenges in the state.
He re-echoed message of the First Lady by calling on mothers, caregivers, fathers and gatekeepers of communities to key into the initiative and take up the vaccines which is targeted at young women within 14 years of age and below so as to curb the spread of measles-rubella virus.
Other stakeholders at the meeting include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Nasiru Muhammed, Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr. Bello Tukur, Commissioner for women affairs and social development, Hajiya Titi Auta, the Permanent Secretary Ministry for Primary Healthcare, Dr. Muhammed Gana, other development partners among others.