WHO Donates Health Commodities, Others To Benue Govt For Emergency Response

From Gabriel Makurdi 

The World Health Organization's (WHO), has donated  some essential medicines and emergency health commodities to Benue State government to strengthen capacity to prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks while improving access to quality healthcare services for vulnerable populations in the State. 

The items donated includes; essential medicines, intravenous fluids, oral rehydration salts, infection prevention and control supplies, medical consumables and other emergency response commodities.

Presenting  those items at the State Ministry of Health and Human Services Headquarters Makurdi, the WHO Benue State Coordinator, Dr. Mohammed Abdulkarim Abdullahi, said the donation was intended to strengthen Benue State's preparedness and response to priority disease outbreaks, including cholera, Lassa fever and other epidemic-prone diseases.

 Abdullahi stated that the commodities would support healthcare delivery in vulnerable communities, particularly Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and host communities, where overcrowding and poor water, sanitation and hygiene conditions increase the risk of communicable diseases. 

He further  explained that the intervention will enhance emergency preparedness, improve case management, strengthen infection prevention and control measures, and reinforce the resilience of the state's health system.

Receiving the items on behalf of the State Government, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh Ogwuche,  described the gesture as a clear indication of the confidence reposed in the  State health sector and the administration of governor Hyacinth Alia, by the World Health Organization and other development partners.

Dr. Ogwuche  alluded that the confidence demonstrated by international development partners reflects the current administration's commitment to transparency, accountability, effective collaboration and ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery across the state. 

He noted that the donation transcends the provision of medicines, describing it as a strong endorsement of the Government's efforts to transform the health sector through strategic partnerships and responsible leadership.

The commissioner conveyed the appreciation of the Benue State Government and its people to the World Health Organization for its sustained partnership and invaluable support, describing the Organization as one of the state's most dependable allies in advancing public health. 

He assured that the donated commodities would be managed with the highest standards of accountability and transparency and promptly distributed to health facilities and communities where they are most needed.

The Commissioner further reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to  the strengthening of collaboration with development partners and the advancement of Universal Health Coverage in line with the health sector transformation agenda of the Alia administration.

Dr. Ogwuche however noted that the intervention further reinforces the longstanding partnership between the World Health Organization and the Benue State Government in advancing the health sector transformation agenda of Governor Hyacinth Alia and improving health outcomes for the people of Benue State.