World Bank Technical Support team visits Borno State

A World Bank Technical Support Team led by the Task Team Leader on Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) Serena Cavicchi, has visited Borno State for performance evaluation, monitoring of some selected projects and help enhance the performance of the MCRP Team in Borno State.

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.

After a special session with the Borno State Government, the MCRP officials were 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 where the officer-in-charge of the clinic Yachilla Waziri said after building the Primary Health Centre, the project also supported the clinic with solar power, Borehole and essential drugs.

While commending the Borno State Government and the World Bank for its interventions, Ya chilla also solicited 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.

While at the Maiduguri Chest Clinic, the team was received and conducted round by the Medical Officer in charge of the Clinic Dr. Mustafa Bintube who said the hospital serves as a referral centre being the only specialized Hospital on chest diseases in the entire northeast.

Dr. Bintube said, “We receive patients not only in northeastern Nigeria but from Chad, Niger, and Cameroon as well adding they also serve as Data Collection Centre to the World Health Organization and other UN organizations on Tuberculosis.“

“Prior to its reconstruction by the Borno State Government the clinic hardly operates due to neglect and dearth of medical equipment adding however that 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”.

The Team also were at the Borno State E-Library one of the 54 public buildings constructed by the MCRP across Borno State from where they proceeded to Gwange two Primary School to see the Mega School construction and furnished by the Project through the Borno State Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.

The team also inspected the 66klm Maiduguri –Bama Road which is under construction, the team leader expressed appreciation for the Performance of Borno State MCRP officials for their commitment and the state government for its determination to better the lives of the Borno people, especially from the effect of the insurgency.

Later the World Bank officials also met with Governor Babagana Umara Zulum at the Government House in Maiduguri to brief him on their mission to Borno State as chairman of the state steering committee.

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 Prior to his election.

The Borno State MCRP coordinator Zanna Abdulkarim expressed delight over the visit saying apart from technical knowledge gained, the visit has also strengthened the State MCRP Team on how to execute the project activities in line with the Bank Standard and global best practices in the interest of the people in whose interest the Government and the Bank are carrying out the various activities which cut across, water, sanitation and hygiene, Agriculture, Public Buildings, Education, Transport and nonfood items among others. (VON)