Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s positive and partnership-driven disposition has continued to attract both local and international partnership, as one of the world’s leading non-profit organisations specialised in the prevention, control and treatment of malaria and other communicable diseases among vulnerable populations visited Niger State Ministry of Health.
Receiving the guests in an atmosphere of friendship and professionalism, Dr. Ibrahim Tiffin Shugaba, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary who stood-in for the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mustapha Jibril disclosed that, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s administration is more passionately interested on Health projects and policies that are rural inclined.
Dr. Tiffin noted with satisfaction, achievements of the organization in their areas of expertise while charging other organizations to emulate “such incredible and remarkable evidence-inclined success magnanimity”, adding that, the visit will further strengthen the already existing productive partnership between the Ministry and Malaria Consortium.
The Organization, Malaria Consortium was established in 2003 with a mission statement to “improve lives in Africa and Asia through sustainable, evidence-based programmes that combat targeted diseases and promote child and maternal health”.
The Organization’s areas of expertise include ;
Disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment
Disease control and elimination
Health systems strengthening
Research, monitoring and evaluation leading to best practice
Behaviour change communication
National and international advocacy and policy development
Speaking, Malaria Consortium’s Country Director in Nigeria, Dr. Kolawole Maxwell said “we will accomplish this together with partners and all levels of government, by ; designing and implementing cutting edge research, surveillance and monitoring and evaluation as well as through selectively scaling up and delivering sustainable evidence-based health programmes”.
FODIO gathered that, Malaria Consortium has increasingly found their work on malaria in a flexible manner that can be effectively integrated with similar public health interventions for greater impact and have therefore expanded their scope to include child health and other neglected tropical disease interventions.
Other implementing strategies are ; providing technical assistance and consulting services that shape and strengthen national and international health policies, strategies and systems and build local capacity, seeking to ensure that our experience, thought leadership, practical findings and research results are effectively communicated and contribute to the coordinated improvement of access to and quality of healthcare.
MALARIA CONSORTIUM’S STRUCTURE ; with 95 percent of their staff working in malaria endemic areas, they currently have programmes and projects in 12 countries across Africa and Southeast Asia. Their local insight, embedded technical expertise and practical skills gave them the ability to respond to critical challenges quickly and effectively.
Malaria Consortium’s unique structure and robust approach to tackling malaria and other diseases enables them to deliver among the most cost-effective public health programmes, even in complex and challenging environments. Collaboration and cooperation with others through their work is fundamental to their approach and are proud to work closely with communities, governments, academic institutions, and local and international organisations.
ON HOW THEY ARE DIFFERENT ; they are dedicated to ensuring that work is supported by strong evidence and remains grounded in the lessons we learn through implementation. They also explore beyond current practice, so as to try out innovative ways – through research, implementation and policy development – to achieve effective and sustainable disease management and control. They have pioneered best practices and approaches, setting the standards that others now follow.
GLOBAL MANAGEMENT GROUP ; Malaria Consortium is governed by a Board of Trustees, which takes the major strategic decisions for the organisation. Day-to-day operational decision-making is delegated to the Chief Executive, who, with the Global Management Group, runs the organisation. The Global Management Group oversees and manages the technical, management and finance functions, as well as programmes at regional and country level.
As a result of the Governor’s compassion and utmost importance attached to Health, Education, Agriculture to mention but a few, Dr. Tiffin assured Malaria Consortium and other partners that, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s administration has, is and will continue to ensuring that partners are provided with enabling environment, support and political will for people oriented projects to strive in Niger State.
