Maiduguri, 14 June 2017 - The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in collaboration with Borno state government, WHO and 20 health sector partners have jointly conducted a mid-term review of the northeast health and nutrition emergency response project (HNERP) launched by the FMOH launched in January 2017.

At the mid-term review held at the Borno state Government House, the Honourable Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole said that the health and nutrition emergency response project aims at reducing morbidity and mortality through a strengthened and well-coordinated health system response that provide essential life-saving services to over two million displaced persons in the north-east region especially in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states mostly affected by the insurgency.

The primary objective according to the  minister is “to assess the level of implementation and efficacy of the interventions in view of the project goals, identify and address bottlenecks as well as to take necessary steps to improve on project deliverables during the second half of the implementation”.

Professor Adewole emphasized the need for preventing diarrhoeal diseases rather than waiting to treat cases. “We cannot be treating diarrhea and vomiting when in actual fact we should be preventing it,” said the Minister. He highlighted the need to work closely with the ministry responsible for water and sanitation.

In his remarks at the meeting, the Borno State Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Kashim Shettima observed that the health and nutrition project has not only made tangible impact on the lives of Borno people but is helping to rebuild the health system in the state. “I dare to say that, of all the interventions from the Federal government (in the northeast), the health response has simply been the best and most productive,” he said.

Governor Shettima said that despite the present challenges in the state, his administration has been able to rebuild 50 Primary Healthcare Centres, 9 General hospitals as well as completing the first hospital dedicated to women and children in Borno State.

Delivering a goodwill message at the meeting, WHO Country Representative (WR) Dr Wondimagegnehu Alemu, reaffirmed WHO’s commitment at all levels to save more lives by  providing life-saving health services, developing strategies and plans, setting norms and standards,  and provide timely information for evidence-based decision making.  .

He noted that WHO’s technical leadership and coordination of 21 health sector partners for the north-east emergency response is yielding impressive results.

In January 2017, the Federal Government of Nigeria launched the Health and Nutrition Emergency Response Initiative Programme in Borno state as part of the support to the people of north-east affected by the ongoing insurgency. The project was flagged with the donation of essential medicines  and subsequent deployment of 25 teams of health workers to provide health services at the lower level.   According to the minister, the medicines are enough for two years’ intervention.

Highlights of the occasion include the appointment of the Minister of Health as the special envoy on health to Borno state by His Excellency, the Borno state Governor, an inspection visit to the WHO-supported humanitarian Emergency Operations Centre, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital and Teacher’s village IDPs camp, all in Maiduguri, Borno state.

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For more information, please contact:

Technical contact:

Dr Mary Stephen; Tel: +234 803 639 1332; Email:  stephenm [at] who.int (stephenm[at]who[dot]int)

Media contacts :

Ms  Charity Warigon; Tel: +234 810 221 0093; Email: warigonc [at] who.int (warigonc[at]who[dot]int)

Dr Chima Onuekwe; Tel: +234 803 535 4876 Email: onuekwec [at] who.int (onuekwec[at]who[dot]int)

Below :

01. Governor Shettima, Minister of Health and Borno Commissioner for Health at the Health and Nutrition Emergency Response review meeting

02. WR (2nd right) and Minister (2nd left), during a working tour of the Neuro-psychiatric hospital, Maiduguri, Borno