WHO regional director visits Nigeria

The World Health Organisation, Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, has arrived Nigeria on a three-day visit.

Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, in a message issued in Abuja on Sunday, said that Moeti would meet with top-ranking government officials and stakeholders to discuss efforts aimed at certifying Nigeria polio-free and other related developments in Africa.

Adewole stated that during the visit Moeti would evaluate areas where Nigeria required technical support from the WHO in strengthening her health sector towards the achievement of the health- related Sustainable Development Goals.

The minister noted that the visiting director would focus on the revitalisation of the primary healthcare system in the country and the improvement of its health indicators.

He said, “The objective of the visit is to strengthen the collaboration between the World Health Organisation and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Moeti will also meet key political leaders to brief them on the status of implementation of the WHO Transformation Agenda in the African Region.

“She will be holding talks with the Federal Ministry of Health on efforts towards the certification of Nigeria as a polio-free country, as well as the attainment of the health-related SDGs.”

This is Moeti’s second visit to Nigeria in less than 12 months. The WHO regional director last visited the country in October 2015 to present the official communication from the Director – General of WHO on the removal of Nigeria from the list of polio-endemic countries.

The announcement followed uninterrupted non-transmission of wild polio virus for 15 months.

 PUNCH.