Prof. Akin Abayomi received the new Country Director, Nigeria, for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Yesterday, the Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi received in the audience the new Country Director, Nigeria, for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Jérémie Zoungrana at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.
Jérémie Zoungrana led a team from the country office in Abuja including; the Senior Programme Officer and Lead, Nutrition & Strategic Primary Healthcare Initiative, BMF, Dr. Victor Ajieroh; Adviser Consultant, BMGF, Ekanem Isichei and the Lagos State Consultant of BMGF, Kunle Daramola on a courtesy visit to the Commissioner and a walkthrough/inspection of facilities at the Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba.
The Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi who received the BMGF team in the company of the Incident Manager, COVID19Lagos Response, Dr. Ismail Abdul-Salam; Director, Lagos State Biobank, Dr. Bamidele Mutiu; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih; Special Assistant on Health, Dr. Tunde Ajayi; Technical Adviser to the Commissioner, Dr. Olamide Okulaja; Deputy Incident Manager COVID19Lagos, Dr. Babatunde Saka and representative of the LSMOH Grant Management Office, Dr. Chinyere Osuagwu, gave a historical background of the health system strengthening partnership between Lagos and BMGF.
He acknowledged the role played by BMGF during the Ebola response and the current response against COVID-19. Abayomi noted the Oxygen plant and four (4) Oxygen Treatment Centers funded by BMGF have been playing a significant role in the Lagos COVID response.
Stressing that health financing is critical to the delivery of quality and efficient health care services, the Commissioner posited that grants made available for use by BMGF will help improve access to health care services; provide needed human resources particularly health economics and technical advisers on health, and support the medical infrastructure blueprint agenda of the State Government.
Abayomi commended BMGF to extend support to the Lagos State Health Sector, adding that the support has been of immense value. He restated the commitment of the Lagos State Ministry of Health to continued partnership with BMGF is a win-win situation.
Responding, the Country Director, Nigeria, for BMGF, Jérémie Zoungrana expressed delight at what Lagos State has been able to achieve with the little contribution from BMGF.
“I’m impressed that BMGF’s little contribution can be amplified to make a significant impact. I’m proud of what Lagos has been able to achieve post- Ebola, pre-COVID, and during the response against the global pandemic”, he stated.
He commended Lagos State Government for the good response to the support received, adding that BMGF is more committed now than before to work with the State Government to achieve significant indices in the health sector as well as other sectors.
“BMGF will continue to support, collaborate and brainstorm in the areas of health service delivery. We will see what else we can do apart from health in the area of technology and finance. The ultimate goal is to support Lagos and ensure preventive and promotive health is entrenched”, he said
The BMGF team was later led on a tour of the Infectious Disease Hospital; visiting the Lagos Biobank; the Oxygen Plant, Isolation wards, and other facilities.
