In a bid to strengthening the ongoing fight against the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic in the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation, has donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to 54 primary health facilities in the Federal Capital Territory as part of response to the spread COVID-19.
A statement by Austine Elemue, Special Adviser on Media to FCT Minister of State said while presenting the items to FCT Administration, the representative of the Chief Executive Officer of Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation, Dr. Christine Ezenwafor, revealed that the Federal Ministry of Health and the Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation with funding from the World Diabetes Foundation is implementing a project called the Diabetes Awareness and Care Project in the FCT and Imo state.
The statement further revealed that the project which is being piloted in two states was kicked off in the Federal Capital Territory since July, 2019, following the training of health workers from 54 health facilities in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Bwari area councils respectively.
According to her, “The Diabetes and Care Project aims to improve health outcomes by strengthening evidence based programming and policy-making through the utilization of various approaches like advocacy to multiple stakeholders, education at the community level, sensitization of health workers, guideline development, training and performance management to improve access to diabetes prevention and care services.
“One of the objectives of the project is to train health workers across selected primary health centres to deliver education on diabetes and conduct screening across communities in the FCT. The health facilities were provided with necessary equipment and tools in line with the project.We are working in 54 primary healthcare across AMAC and Bwari area councils.
“We have been working over a year now. The project is a three project on diabetes and awareness creation in rural communities. So, as part of our response to COVID-19, we are providing PPE to all the 54 health facilities so that work can go on unhindered. This will be routinely provided on a quarterly basis”.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Administration, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, thanked the donors for contributing to the development of rural health facilities in the territory, stressing that the two area councils in focus are the most densely populated councils in the nation’s capital.
While acknowledging the efforts of other agencies towards flattening the COVID-19 curve, the minister stated that the battle against the dreaded disease is yet to be over, just as she tasked relevant government agencies and other Non Governmental Organisations to assist the FCT Administration in healthcare delivery system.
“The administration warmly acknowledged your efforts towards the battle against COVID-19. It is a continuous exercise and you are active in two area councils is worth commendation. We thank you very much for your contributions to the development of the rural areas,” she affirmed.
Also speaking, the facilitator of the project and Ag. Executive Secretary of FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo, noted that the donation was not only to protect clients, but also for the protection of health workers especially at this time of community spread.
Items donated include hand sanitizers, face masks, face shield, surgical gloves, safety boxes, glucometre strips, cotton wool, Lancet, among others.
