Weeks after her appointment by WHO, Toyin Saraki receives high level delegation from global body

macfranc007 April 10, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Jerrywright Ukwu

- Regional director, World Health Organisation, Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti visited Mrs Toyin Saraki today, Monday, April 9

- Mrs Saraki, wife of Nigeria's Senate president, is the founder-president of the Wellbeing Foundation (WBFA)

- She was recently appointed by Dr Moeti as a special adviser to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO)

The wife of Nigeria's Senate president, Mrs Toyin Saraki, today, April 9, received the regional director, World Health Organisation, Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, in her office in Abuja.

Mrs Saraki, who is the founder-president of the Wellbeing Foundation (WBFA), was recently appointed by Dr Moeti as a special adviser to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO).

WHO Africa regional director visits Toyin Saraki, seeks partnership with WBFA

Dr Moeti speaking during her visit to WBFA founder-president, Mrs Toyin Saraki. Photo credit: WBFA media team

NAIJ.com gathered that the visit was part of a strategic plan for health development within the African region.

More importantly, the overall objective of the courtesy visit is to discuss the terms of partnership for implementing health strategies within Africa, and sharing learning and advisory for improvement and scale-up of existing programs.

WBFA has been on the forefront of providing accessible healthcare for all, especially though its mamacare antenatal and postnatal education classes, which takes important health education to expectant mothers irrespective of where they are located within states in Nigeria, wherein the program is being implemented.

Speaking during her visit, Dr Moeti stated that WHOAFRO is elated to be in partnership with the WBFA, and are particularly interested in strengthening midwifery education in Nigeria.

She particularly hailed WBFA's partnership with midwives, stressing that they are very key to solving the issues of maternal mortality.

We are amazed at the work you are doing and we want to engage your foundation in the work that you do and we seek a partnership to address the shortcomings.

She lamented that Africa's health systems are not up to the task with no adequately trained and qualified attendants in the health sector, but expressed optimism that the proposed partnership with WBFA will promote affordable health insurance for low income earners.

“Part of our responsibility is to look for what works, and have it adopted to mirror what we hope to achieve. We'll like to document your best practices,” she said

Responding, Mrs Saraki said she used the opportunity of her trips to several countries across the world to model good health initiatives working in those countries and adopted it in Nigeria.

She noted that she observed that training given to doctors and senior health workers was not trickled down to midwives and nurses, hence WBFA's focus on them.

“We hope you will be honest with us to call our attention to areas that need improvement in our work.

“We are hungry to adopt the best practices in countries under your purview,” she said.

Last month, Mrs Saraki was named “Health-for-All Champion” and one of four women making waves in global health by Devex, the international development media platform and social enterprise.

Upon receiving the accolade, Saraki canvassed for improving health outcomes as well as reducing poverty, driving economic growth and promoting gender equality around the world.

N1,500 for health of Nigerians on NAIJ.com TV