The Honourable Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole has been commended by an internationally recognised health donor agency for his exemplary and qualitative leadership style.
This commendation is coming on the heels of the ongoing World Health Assembly in Geneva Switzerland. The executive director of The Global Fund, Mark Dybul while paying glowing tribute to the forthrightness and honesty exhibited by the health minister in one of the sidelines meeting called at the instance of Prof. Adewole was quoted to have said, “The work you have done in such a short time as Minister of health in Nigeria is breathtaking”
Mr. Dybul further stressed that “because of your leadership and appeal we did not reduce the allocation to Nigeria. You have been honest. As a result of your honesty, when I leave the assembly I will be working on several projects across Africa, please let me know how I can be of help to you in Nigeria”
The Global fund is an international health support agency that has been assisting Nigeria over the years through the donation of funds, drugs, research and strategic development in the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. You will recall that few of the international agencies withdrew their support to Nigeria owing to the massive corruption and diversion of funds perpetuated during the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. The minister was accompanied to the meeting alongside Dr. Faisal Shuaib who is the CEO of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP).
Earlier, the minister who spoke on behalf of his colleagues from Africa has presented the Nigeria Universal Health coverage agenda to the general assembly of the WHO where over 200 countries are in attendance including the outgoing DG of WHO, Mrs. Magaret Chan. And yesterday, he also coordinated the meeting of the Commonwealth Health Ministers of the African region to articulate the continent`s agenda where he rolled out the plans and efforts of his ministry in tackling the menace of cervical cancer which includes free cancer screening for breast and cervical cancer and prostate cancer in men above 50years of age.
He particularly emphasized that over 17,000 screenings were carried out in 2016 and with the passage of the 2017 budget, close to 200,000 Nigerians will continue to benefit from the free screenings; he advocated to global partners that more funds and investment in terms of research, drugs and treatment should be sent to Nigeria. The 70th World Health Assembly started on May 22nd is expected to close on the last day of this month.
