Health and Agricultural Sector Reps Adamawa State seek PCNI collaboration

A delegation from the Adamawa state ministries of Health and Agriculture visited the Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative on the 22nd of August 2017. The Vice Chairman Tijjani Tumsah received the delegates on behalf of the Chairman Lt Gen T.Y. Danjuma.

The Vice Chairman, Mr. Tumsah commended the state for its efforts in resuscitating the affected sectors. He said that challenges presented by the delegates are in consonance with the PCNI mandate and its objectives as enunciated in the Buhari Plan. He pledged that PCNI will work together with the state and other stake holders and partners to alleviate the challenges of the region. He observed that both the health and Agricultural sectors’ demands are enormous and urged the delegates to prioritise their needs to help PCNI adequately focus urgent assistance on areas of critical need.

Speaking earlier, the representative of the health sector, Mr. Mansur Suleiman, itemised three critical needs of the sector in Adamawa State. These are the lack of human resources, infrastructure and equipment, and the absence of a health information system.

These deficits adversely affect the efficiency of deliveries by the sector. He disclosed that there are only 2 consultants, 63 doctors, 731 nurses and 71 midwives in Adamawa State –a paltry number which is grossly inadequate for healthcare delivery in the state. In addition, the College of Health Technology, Mubi and the College of Nursing and Midwifery are plagued by infrastructural challenges and non-accreditation of courses on offer which has affected service output.

Speaking on Livestock Sector, Dr. Abdulrahman Tukur said that the sector being the biggest contributor to the economy of the state, has practically collapsed due to negligence and desertion of the livestock.

He also highlighted other issues such as direct livestock related damages and livestock value chain as well as the need to reconstruct dilapidated and destroyed veterinary infrastructure estimated at over N1 billion for reviving the sector.

The team stated that their objective was to solicit PCNI’s support for the revitalisation of both sectors to meet the required standards for effective service delivery to the communities and the entire region.