The World Health Organization (WHO), has described the response by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health challenges as one of the best in Nigeria.
The Country representative of WHO, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo who spoke today, May 13, when he led a delegation on a visit to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello said “we will like to appreciate your leadership in the ongoing COVID-19 response, which clearly demonstrates your commitment to attaining the highest state of health for the FCT residents”.
“This is demonstrative in the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 and robust outbreak response which you set up, leading to the highest containment, the highest testing rate per million as well as high vaccination rate of 2.1% of targeted population. It’s one of the highest in Nigeria and even in the world.”
He also commended the public private partnership through the Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee which established the Molecular diagnostic laboratory and which, according to Dr Mulombo, “Will improve access to testing for COVID-19 and other diseases and will go a long way in supporting early detection and response to diseases outbreak in the Territory”.
He applauded the Administration for its commitment to the improvement of maternal and child mortality rate in the FCT, saying that the establishment of a task force to address the issue in the Territory, will go a long way in identifying group causes of high maternal and child mortality rates and the development and implementation of programmes to address the challenges identified.
Dr. Mulombo said that WHO Is proud of the FCT’s achievement in this regard because its programmes “really aligns with the UN Secretary General’s strategy for women, children and adolescent health 2016 – 2030, which is articulated around survive, thrive and transform, building on enabling environment.”
Responding, the Minister commended the WHO office in the FCT for its successes and pledged the Administration’s support for it and other UN programmes within the Territory.
The Minister also said that emphasis will be placed on budgetary, support and counterpart funding in order to improve funding for WHO and other public health related programmes.
He however advised the World Health Organisation to continuously engage relevant private sector stakeholders and encourage private donors, within the country for improved funding of its polio and other programmes.
“As you can see, the coalition of the private of sector people did very well with respect of rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine. So, the same thing could be done for the maintenance and sustainability of what has already been established on polio eradication.”
