The World Health Organization (WHO) has handed over a large consignment of life-saving medical supplies and medicine to the Borno State Government to tackle the rising tide of child mortality and malnutrition in the state.
At the handover ceremony in Maiduguri on Tuesday, WHO Country Representative, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, said the donation includes essential medicines, nutritional supplements, and medical equipment aimed at supporting vulnerable populations, particularly children under five, who are bearing the brunt of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the state.
According to Mulombo, the donation will benefit over 484,740 vulnerable populations, including those in hard-to-reach areas with limited access to healthcare services.
Dr Ann Fortin, Team Lead for WHE, who represented the WHO Country Representative, explained that the commodities will be used to provide high-quality treatment services to over 3,200 children under five suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and medical complications.
The WHO praised the Borno State Government for its commitment to improving healthcare services in the state and thanked donors and partners, including BHA and USAID, for their support in making the donation possible.
The WHO stressed the need for continued collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that no child is left behind, especially in hard-to-reach areas, and called for renewed commitment to safeguarding the health and future of children in Borno State.
“This donation is a testament to the WHO’s commitment to supporting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations in Nigeria, particularly in areas affected by conflict and displacement,” Mulombo added.
Receiving the items, Commissioner of Health and Human Resources, Prof Malum Gana, commended the WHO for its continued support to the state’s healthcare sector, particularly in the area of maternal and child health.
Gana assured that the items donated would be judiciously utilized to provide quality healthcare services to the people of Borno State, especially the vulnerable populations.
He promised that the state government would continue to work closely with the WHO and other partners to ensure that the healthcare needs of the people are met.
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