By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah has commended the leadership of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (MoD-HIP) and team for their continued commitment and professionalism in the fight against HIV-AIDS, especially, within the Armed Forces families.
He made this commendation during his familiarization tour to the Programme Office in Abuja.
According to Mr. Pheelangwah, the health and well-being of the families of the Armed Forces is central to the effectiveness and performance of the force.
He assured the management, of the Ministry’s commitment towards the implementation of the MoD’s health Programme by strengthening governance structure, so that this laudable Programme can as well serve other Nigerians.
The Permanent Secretary while hailing the milestone achievements of the Programme within a short period of its establishment, urged leadership to focus on strategic collaboration and continued investment in digital health.
In his response, the Director-General, Brigadier-General Babatunde Solebo, who earlier gave a brief overview of the activities of the programme under his watch, described the familiarization tour embarked by the Permanent Secretary as a sign of good leadership. He counted his Office as one of the privileged few to be honoured with his visit.
According to Solebo, the Programme, which has its operational base in 18 states of the federation, including FCT, is charged with public health management preparedness, initially on HIV-AIDS and later incorporated COVID-19 and mental health care; It also engages in Research and maintains a strategic collaboration among institutions such as National Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Custom Services, US Embassy and others. The Programme also handles mother-child transmission of HIV-AIDS to ensure a healthy population. It, as well takes up scholarship and skill acquisition roles for vulnerable children, especially, the military families;
The DG, however, itemized; the absorption of 300 Health Implementation staff; securing of regular budgetary framework, Infrastructural upgrade, including the establishment of Armed Forces College of Medicine, as items that will enhance the MoD Health Implementation Programme’s (MoD-HIPs) sustainability.
Earlier in her Address of Welcome the Country Director, Walter Reed Army institute of Research Africa (WRAIR -AFRICA, NIGERIA), Mrs Helina Meri while welcoming the Permanent Secretary’s delegation noted that the United States of America that she represents here in Nigeria has been working together with MoD -HIP in all its administrative and technical areas to ensure the success of this health programme.
Present at the event are the Directors from the Ministry and MoD-HIP headquarters and other staff.
