NEWS
COVID-19: Nigeria, happy with global support – Health Minister
MINISTER of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has expressed government’s happiness over the global support it has received in its fight against COVID-19.
Dr. Ehanire made this known while welcoming the new World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo.
He appreciated the UN bodies who had come together to create “One Basket Fund” which he wants the new WHO Country Rep to get interested in, as the fund significantly boosted the resources and the assets which Nigeria has to respond.
“The first of which was the $2Million consignment that came into Nigeria to kick start everything that Nigeria has to do, just as the other consignments begin to roll in”.
While stating that Nigeria has a good stock in the warehouse along with the support received from other countries, the EU and the US Government, UK, Global Fund, among others, the minister said, “Nigeria is pleased to have you on board as the Health Team will count on your experience to continue to calibrate on our response as you are coming right in the middle of the storm.”
“We are pleased with the handholding that is going on, and we hope that all that will continue to grow.”
Ehanire, also said he was worried about the impact and effect of COVID-19.
The WHO Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, expressed satisfaction with Nigeria’s COVID-19 protocols and congratuled the Health Minister for taking the leadership to make Nigeria certified polio-free.
“It is a very big achievement and it paves the way for the whole continent to be certified polio-free; for that, we are very proud of Nigeria.
“However, the advantage and lessons learnt from managing Nigeria to a Polio-free country can be built upon, to try and address issues regarding the COVID-19 and other health emergencies.”
Before Dr. Walter KazadiMulombo’s resumption as the new WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Fiona Braka had been acting and representing WHO in the country.
