Press Release: Kebbi Partners International Firm to Bolster the Fight Against HIV, Mental Health and Oncology

Kebbi State Government has entered into a robust partnership with an International Company, Johnson and Johnson, to bolster the ongoing fight against HIV and improve mental health and Oncology.

Governor Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this Monday, in Birnin Kebbi at the opening of a 4-day Training workshop on HIV management, mental Health and oncology for Kebbi State Health workers.

Bagudu said that, the partnership would provide wonderful opportunity to the state to boost the ongoing efforts to turn the tide against the HIV scourge.

The governor also said that, the partnership will facilitate further research, innovations and treatment of the patients of the disease.

Bagudu further noted: “We will learn more from each other, exchange knowledge and share it a lot.

“Knowledge is not the exclusive preserve of any group of persons or person, but, it can be shared.”

The Kebbi governor further observed that the partnership will provide opportunities for internships by students, as well as collaboration with Researchers.

The governor also lauded the state Health Commissioner, his team and all the stakeholders in ensuring the success of all the health related programmes and policies of his administration.

He commended his wife, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu for playing key role in ensuring that people of the state benefit from better healthcare services as well as facilitating the workshop and partnering with Johnson and Johnson, a popular multinational corporation on pharmaceutical and Consumer Packaged goods

Earlier, the Commissioner of Health, Jafar Muhammed (Clean) in his welcome address said the training workshop was aimed at giving further training to improve the knowledge of healthcare workers for better service delivery in the state.

“The workshop can help improve the capacity of our healthcare workers so that they can improve quality Services at our health facilities.”

While expressing his gratitude to the governor for giving the ministry the opportunity to organize the training, he urged the participants to take advantage of the opportunity so that they could be able to optimize their skills and deliver good services to people in the state.

Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu who spoke through virtual address during the program, thanked her husband, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his diligent effort for the success of the workshop.

She also thanked the state Ministry of Health as well as Johnson and Johnson West Africa for collaborating with the State Ministry of Health for the workshop.

Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu assured of her unwavering continuous support to health care delivery in the state.

The program featured questions and answers as well as presentation by Dr. Philip Nwojiabi Princewill of National Hospital Abuja, consultant microbiologist on Initiating Patients on Anti - Retroviral Therapy and Professor Oche Agbaji, Consultant & HIV Specialist from University Teaching Hospital Jos who gave an update on the use of Protease Inhibitors in the Management of Treatment Failures.

The presenters commended the Kebbi State Government for the bold initiative to partner with Johnson and Johnson West Africa to provide better healthcare services to people of Kebbi State.

All the speakers made virtual presentations of their papers while the governor and participants watched with keen interest.

The 70 participants attending the four day training workshop include Principal Medical Officers (PMOs) from the 31 General Hospitals across the state, representatives of Nurses, Midwives and Lab Scientists.

Signed:
YAHAYA SARKI
Special Adviser SA Media to Kebbi State Governor
7/9/2020