Economic Confidential, April, 2009

INTERVIEW FROM STATE

We Need More World Bank’s Support in the Health System

An Interview with Commissioner of Health, Sokoto State, Dr. Muhammad Jabbi Kilgori during the World Bank Media Tour of Health System Development Project II. The Economic Confidential was in the team.

Can you give us a brief about you?

My name is Dr. Muhammad Jabbi Kilgori. I have a B.Sc., M.Sc. and a PhD in Agronomy. I have been working with the World Bank IFAD System for over 20 years. I have been exposed to integrated management, rural development programmes that has direct bearing with the people. This cuts across various sectors; agriculture, education, housing, infrastructure etc. That is my foundation. I have also been exposed nationally and internationally to so many training opportunities and interactions with high level professionals and resource persons across the globe that have excelled in different fields of endeavours. That has given me the experience to bear in my present responsibility.

What steps are you taking to ensure the sustainability of the health system development project assisted by the World Bank in Sokoto State?

Our approach is to ensure that what ever we do, we carry the communities involved along. At any stage of this project identification, project preparation, project planning, project implementation and execution; we try to engage and get the community members involved, in order to let them take responsibility of ownership. They are made to understand that whatever we are doing is for their good. We try to mobilize, motivate, enlighten and educate the people that these projects are brought to serve them. They are there when all resources are invested. They are involved in the projects and made to understand that they are the ones to sustain it. We let them know that they are the ones to leave a legacy for posterity to judge; a benefit for their children and grand children. In Sokoto State we try to reorient the people to understand the new concept of development; we are trying to ensure that all project sited in the communities involves the resident beneficiaries in order to ensure sustainability. This I believe is what can make a project to work.

What is the budgetary Allocation to the Ministry of Health?

I am quite impressed with the budget allocation to the Ministry of Health. We got 4.8 billion which is about 10% (percent) of the entire budget and second only to education which to me is good enough. Now only if it is going to be invested in provision of additional facilities will it be justified. We are working to provide for more primary healthcare centres, to upgrade some existing ones to general hospitals. We are also working to establish tertiary healthcare centres. The Murtala Mohammed Hospital which has been uncompleted for almost 20 years now, we are going to reconstruct it to completion in order to get tertiary level service. But most importantly, we are working to establish partnership at local government level; because that is where the bulk of the budgetary allocation will be expended. We are trying to motivate and work together with the communities so as to ensure the establishment of more primary healthcare centres in the rural areas. Which is the foundation and bedrock of healthcare. If we are able to establish a very sound primary healthcare system, then you can be rest assured that we are minimizing the complications, the problems that will metamorphose to secondary level; which will also minimize the complications that could deteriorate to tertiary level. These are the main focus of this year’s budget. More facilities, more equipment, manpower training and also the development of community organizations to be able to sustain these interventions.

Under the HSDP II assisted by the World Bank, the initial loan package was 5 million dollars and later increased to 7 million dollars and already 3.8 million dollars has been disbursed. During the courtesy call on the Sultan, he made a request for more loans with regards to the HSDP II project which you equally requested. How much are you looking for and what is the stage of discussions with the World Bank?

Yes, I was in discussion with Mrs. Anne Okigbo Fisher who is a Senior Operations Specialist in the World Bank country office as well as the Task Team leader of the HSDP II, that Sokoto State is focused, determined and moving in the right direction. We are getting the projects to the designated communities, getting the feasibility plan right and there is so much demand. Now, what the World Bank has allocated to us is 3.8 million dollars for the one year extension of these facilities. We have the capacity to absorb much more than that so we are looking for at least 10 million dollars more. If that request is granted, I can assure you that it will be put to maximum use and efficient utilization of the funds. Much better than other states under the HSDP II programme that have different conflicting interests and the inability to implement simple budgets that have direct bearing on the lives of the people. Discussions are still underway with Madam Anne to get her good will. Through her, the World Bank will appreciate what Sokoto State is doing. Sokoto State can be used as a model and healthcare reference point by the World Bank if made to record maximum success as a case study for other states in the country to follow. That is a good thing that the World Bank can show case about Nigeria instead of allocating enormous resources to many states and see no visible results. What we have achieved so far should convince the World Bank to allocate more resources to us knowing it will be put to work judiciously.

What are your short and long term priorities in the healthcare sector?

My short term priority is to see to it that any where I find myself, I put in my best. There is nothing you can do to your nation than to dedicate yourself in whatever area of your chosen. The state has invested so much in me that I will like to give back as much as I can. I will gladly seize opportunities that enable me to make my own humble contribution in anyway possible to enhance the livelihood and improved welfare of the people. This is my immediate priority. In the long term, I will like to see Nigeria moving rapidly towards evolving into a society that is well grounded economically with the unemployment issue becoming a thing of the past. At the same time made in Nigeria products are exported out and becoming a source of revenue to the nation’s coffers where we have manufacturers, producers of goods and services that can be exported across the globe. Families are able to put together businesses that are launched worldwide to bring in foreign exchange into the country. This is a long term vision which I see myself as a fore player.