By Haruna Gimba
Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi state, has inaugurated a 19-man standing committee on corporate social responsibility, to address numerous challenges facing health sector in the state.
Speaking while inaugurating the committee, governor Abubakar said challenged faced by health sector are so numerous that supporting the health agenda has become not only mandatory, but also requires newer visions with more resources and most importantly focus and direction for the state to achieve its goal on the Five Point Agenda on Health.
The governor said through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), corporate bodies should protect the interest of the society at large, saying every individual and organization should take initiative for welfare of the society.
He said: “Despite the huge commitment of this administration, government still requires the collaborative efforts of well-meaning friends and partners to function. Thus the Bauchi State Standing Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility is established to coordinate the general public, corporate organizations, wealthy individuals and philanthropist towards supporting the health sector to ensure a healthy society.”
The members of the committee to be chaired by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Halima Mukaddas, are; Special Adviser to the governor on Security, Air Commondo Tijjani Baba (Rtd), Director Commerce; State Ministry of Commerce, Executive Secretary State Primary Health Care Development Agency, representative of the Bauchi State Board of Internal Revenue and chairman of the state House of Assembly Committee on Health, state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Representative of Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Ahmed
Mohammed Ahmed
Others include; Maryam Garba and Bulak Afsa representing Bauchi State Accountability Mechanism on MNCH (BASaM), Special Assistant to the Bauchi State Governor on NGOs and Development Partners, Alhaji Mansur Manu, representatives of Guild of Medical Directors, Bauchi GSMs Network, Commercial Banks, Bauchi Committee of Bankers, Central Bank of Nigeria, Bauchi Office, Traditional Rulers, indigenous Business community and Dr. Mansur Dada who will serve as Secretary of the committee.
The committee term of reference includes; sensitizing and mobilizing private sector on corporate social responsibility within and outside the state, conducting advocacy visits, seminars and study tours to galvanize action in private sector and philanthropists.
Mapping and maintaining database of all private sector organizations in the state that could support sustainable health financing and development in the state, develop appropriate strategies of effective engagement of private sector on CSR, overseeing all Public Private Partnership (PPP) engagements in the health sector and developing
annual operation plan, ensures its implementation and performance.
