By Asma’u Ahmad
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday donated 12 motorcycles to Borno Government to enhance disease surveillance and control services in the state.
The WHO Country Representative, Mr Wondi Alimu, made the disclosure while presenting the motorcycles to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Haruna Mshelia in Maiduguri.
Mr Wondi Alimu
Mr Alimu said the gesture was to ease the movement of surveillance officers and enhance healthcare delivery at the grassroots. He added that two motorcycles would be provided each to six designated local government councils to facilitate monitoring and surveillance activities.
Alimu, who did not give details on the benefitting councils, said the organisation accorded priority to surveillance to fast track disease control in rural communities.
“Surveillance is the backbone of disease control: presently, we are doing polio eradication activities and we need effective monitoring and surveillance mechanism to resolve cases. “Emergency response is a critical component of our intervention in disease control project,” he said.
Responding, Dr Mshelia lauded the organisation for the gesture, saying it would go a long way in improving healthcare service delivery.
He said the state government initiated programmes to transform the healthcare sector after the destruction caused by Boko Harm insurgents. The government had rehabilitated and reconstructed over 200 health facilities ravaged by the insurgents, he added.
