World Bank Technical Support Team visits Borno, Commend Governor Zulum’s developmental leads

By: James Bwala

World Bank Technical Support Team has visited Borno State on performance evaluation, monitoring of some selected projects and help enhance performance of the MCRP Team.

The team was led by the Task Team Leader on Multi Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP), Serena Cavicchi.

Other members of the Technical Support Mission include consultant to the World Bank on MCRP Project Mr. Masroor Ahmed, Chidozie AG, Agricultural Economist, Anas Abba Kyari, Senior Procurement Specialist, Professor Ahmed Chinade Environmental Safeguard and Nkem Uzochukun C1 and C3 specialist.

A statement made available to NEWSng on Sunday said, after a special session with the Borno State MCRP officials at the Technology Incubation Hub in Maiduguri the team led by the Borno State Coordinator of MCRP Baba Zanna Abdulkarim visited one of the 25 health facilities built by the project at Abujan talakawa area.

At the facility, the officer in-charge of the clinic Yachilla Waziri told the team members that after building the Primary health Centre, the project also supported the clinic with solar power, Borehole and essential drugs

She commended the Borno State Government and the World Bank for its interventions.

Ya chilla also solicited for the expansion of its immunization cold room and construction of shades for out-patients, adding that the clinic operates 24 hour services with an average of 80 patients daily.

The team which visited the Maiduguri Chest Clinic was received and conducted round by the Medical Officer in charge of the Clinic, Dr. Mustafa Bintube.

Dr. Bintube told the team that the hospital serves as referral centre being the only specialized Hospital on chest diseases in the entire north east.

“The clinic receives patients not only in north eastern Nigeria but from chad Niger, and Cameroon. The clinic also serves as Data Collection Centre to the world health Organization and other UN organizations on Tuberculosis.

“Prior to its reconstruction by the Borno State Government through the MCRP the clinic hardly operates due to neglect and dearth of medical equipment. However with the special intervention that brings it back to life, the hospital recorded over two hundred cases of TB mostly from northern Borno occasioned by the insurgency induced displacement.

“Currently the hospital is planning to commence admission of inpatients as soon as new staff are employed by the Borno State Government.” He said.

The team was also at the new Borno State E being, which is one of the 54 public buildings constructed by the MCRP across Borno State.

From there the team preceded to Gwange (2) Primary School to see the Mega School, which was constructed and furnished by the Project through Borno State Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.

Also Read: NBBF: The Voice of Jacob and the hand of Esau

The mission by the World Bank officials also visited the 66km Maiduguri –Bama Road under construction where the team leader expressed appreciation on the Performance of Borno State MCRP officials for their commitment and the state government for its determination to better the lots of the people affected by the insurgency.

The World Bank Team also had technical session with some government officials from the line MDAs, in which the project is carrying out its interventions especially the Ministry of Works, Education, Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Water Resources, Health and Human Services, Agriculture as well as members of the peace group, community leaders and relevant CSOs who provide third party monitoring oversights.

While meeting with Governor Babagana Umara Zulum at the Government House in Maiduguri to brief him on their mission to Borno state, the team leader Serena Cavicchi commended the Governor for being proactive and taking the lead stressing that this might not be unconnected with him being the pioneer State Coordinator of the Project in Borno State.

Speaking at the end of the visit, the Borno State MCRP Coordinator, Baba Zanna Abdulkarim, expressed delight over the visit saying apart from technical knowledge gained, the visit has also strengthen the State MCRP Team on how to execute the project activities in line with the Bank Standard and global best practices.

“This is also in the interest of the people in whose interest the Government and the Bank are carrying out the various activities which cuts across, water, sanitation and hygiene,  Agriculture, Public Buildings, Education, Transport and nonfood items among others” Zanna Abdulkarim said.

He also observed that all interventions and supports being rendered by the World Bank to the people through the Federal and Borno State Governments were aimed at promoting and building a peaceful coexistence, reconstruction, resettlement and recovery among those affected by the over decade long insurgency in Borno and the North East in general.

World Bank Technical Support Team visits Borno, Commend Governor Zulum’s developmental leads