Nigeria’s Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, says the government is pleased with the global support it has received in its fight against COVID-19.
Dr. Ehanire stated this while welcoming the new World Health Organization’s (WHO) Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo.
The Minister of Health expressed the appreciation of Nigeria to the UN Bodies who had come together to create “One Basket Fund” which he wants the new WHO Country Rep to get interested in, because 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”, the Minister said.
Dr. Ehanire added 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.
He 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,” he said.
Nigeria’s Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, also said he was worried about the impact and effect of COVID-19.
Responding, the WHO Representative to Nigeria, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, first expressed satisfaction with the set-up at the Airport upon his arrival, as well as the protocol put in place at the hotel he lodged in.
He was also impressed with Nigeria’s COVID-19 protocols while congratulating the Health Minister on 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.”
He said that the WHO would want to build on the success recorded so far and explore other avenues to support the Health Ministry and the Government of Nigeria.
Before Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo’s resumption as the new WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Fiona Braka had been acting and representing WHO in the country.
