By Ihechi Enyinnaya
The United States Department of Defence has donated health care items including Personal Protective Equipment to the Nigerian Armed Forces.
According to a statement by Kabir Isa B, for Director Press & Public Relations of the Ministry of Defence, Permanent Secretary, Babangida Hussaini stated this while receiving the the items on behalf of the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi.
He noted that the collaboration has grown to include researches and several interventions that provides source of livelihoods through job creation for health care workers and professionals allied to healthcare delivery.
He said the long lasting relationship between Nigeria and the United States has remained beneficial to the Nigerian Armed Forces on health and allied matters thus, translating towards achieving some remarkable records in prevention, care and treatment of HIV, Ebola, Lassa Fever and recently the containment of Covid-19 pandemic.
He said: “the Defence Referral Laboratory which was recently re-accredited with state-of–the-art diagnostic equipment was established with the support of the US government and these has greatly enhanced the capacity of our personnel leading to ground breaking research studies.”
He said the outcomes of the researches have been utilized to upscale the prevention and management of infectious diseases especially at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In his words, “there is no gainsaying the fact that this donation would further enhance the ability of our front line medical staff in the fight to curtail the Covid-19 and to ensure that staff go about their duties with minimal risk of being exposed to harmful infectious agents.” he added.
He assured the Donors that the items would be appropriately deployed to relevant military facilities without delay or hindrance.
In her remarks while presenting the equipment, the United States charge de Affair, Nigeria, Kathleen Fitzgibbon, said the relationship between the United States and Nigeria has remained community oriented adding that the US would continue to support the Government and people of Nigeria for a better world.
The Director General, Defence Health Implementation Programme, Brig. Gen. Nathan Anelechi Okeji, while welcoming the guests to the ceremony, commended the visionary leadership of the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi and the US Ambassador to Nigeria for actualizing their understanding.