The World Health Organisation has tasked civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations to intensify interventions in reproductive health and other critical areas capable of addressing children’s health challenges.
Speaking on Wednesday in Yola during the flag-off of the distribution of drugs and medical supplies to Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State by Lifesaving Grassroots Outreach, the WHO State Coordinator, Dr Yusuf Abdulhakeem, said the interventions would help reduce the risk of outbreaks of cholera and other communicable diseases in the area.
Abdulhakeem, who was represented by the WHO Surveillance Officer, Dr Visa Tyakong, said the Integrated Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Outbreak Response Programme for conflict-affected populations was timely and relevant in preventing illness and death.
“The availability of essential drugs and consumables being flagged off today will directly enhance the quality of care and also strengthen outbreak preparedness,” he said.
The coordinator added that the WHO would continue to provide technical support and coordination to ensure that health interventions in Adamawa State align with national and global standards.
In his welcome remarks, the Programme Manager of Lifesaving Grassroots Outreach, Mr James Tizhe, said Madagali was chosen as the focus of the organisation’s intervention because it was one of the areas most affected by insurgency due to its proximity to the Sambisa Forest in Borno State.
He said the organisation’s objectives in Adamawa State included promoting quality of life and human dignity in underserved communities by providing essential humanitarian services, strengthening community health systems and building local capacity for lifesaving healthcare services, disease prevention, reproductive health and maternal care.
“Our mobile health teams are on the ground, ensuring that even the most remote communities receive the healthcare services they need,” he stated.
Tizhe disclosed that three health facilities were selected for the distribution of the drugs and other medical consumables, adding that the staff of the organisation would monitor their administration to beneficiaries.
He added that the drugs supplied to Madagali were expected to last for six months.
While receiving the items on behalf of the Ministry of Health, the Director of Public Health, Mr Nuhu Yahaya, commended the organisation for the intervention aimed at tackling some of the health challenges in the state.
He said the ministry’s mandate was to ensure the well-being of the people, stressing that “health is wealth.”
WHO has been a key technical partner in Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen health systems, particularly in the areas of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health and outbreak preparedness.
In August 2025, the Federal Ministry of Health launched an initiative with technical support from WHO to integrate sexual and reproductive health services with communicable disease interventions, aiming to improve access to care for vulnerable populations, including women and adolescents.
This programme is designed to bridge service gaps by combining reproductive health, HIV, antenatal care and other essential services to deliver more coordinated, people-centred care across multiple states.
WHO has also been actively involved in disease prevention and outbreak response across Nigeria. In response to recurring cholera threats, WHO has worked with government agencies and partners to strengthen surveillance, train health workers, pre-position emergency supplies and improve outbreak preparedness, particularly in states like Adamawa and others in the northeast.
These efforts are part of a broader national push supported by WHO and partners to build resilient health systems capable of detecting and responding to outbreaks while maintaining essential services for reproductive and child health.
