In a significant stride towards enhancing community healthcare infrastructure and bolstering response mechanisms, eHealth Africa has inaugurated Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) in Kebbi and Zamfara states.
These centers, constructed and delivered by eHealth Africa with backing from influential partners such as The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Aliko Dangote Foundation, mark a pivotal development in the states’ endeavors to combat diseases like Polio and other vaccine-preventable illnesses. They also underscore the commitment to fostering effective stakeholder engagement, collaborative planning, and institutional fortification within public health frameworks.
Judith Owoicho, Communications Manager at eHealth Africa, disclosed that the handover ceremonies took place on January 29th and 31st in Zamfara and Kebbi states, respectively.
Emphasizing the significance of this initiative, Atef Fawaz, Executive Director of eHealth Africa, commended the exemplary quality of these modern Emergency Operations Centers, affirming their alignment with global standards in public health infrastructure. He underscored eHealth Africa’s decade-long experience in spearheading similar projects across Nigeria and Africa, positioning the organization adeptly to implement interventions of this scale.
Fawaz remarked, “This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting public health stakeholders in strategic planning and coordinated emergency response efforts, particularly as Nigeria achieves notable successes in eradicating Polio and mitigating vaccine-preventable diseases.”
Kazeem Balogun, Senior Program Manager responsible for overseeing the mapping, design, and establishment of these vital healthcare facilities, emphasized the collaborative approach and meticulous planning involved. He acknowledged the indispensable contributions of key stakeholders, including national and state healthcare agencies, traditional and religious leaders, and international partners, in ensuring the successful completion and activation of the Emergency Centers.
Balogun underscored eHealth Africa’s commitment to equipping these centers with state-of-the-art equipment, facilitating enhanced planning, coordination, and data utilization for informed public health emergency responses.
Following the inauguration, Haruna Kaita, the project manager, led distinguished guests including Dr. Dauda Lawal, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, and Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, on a tour of the facility, accompanied by representatives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, and other stakeholders.
