By Harriet Tornguvan
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwah, has commended the leadership and staff of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (MoD-HIP) for their dedication and professionalism in tackling HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, and other public health challenges affecting personnel of the Armed Forces and their families.
Pheelangwah gave the commendation during a familiarisation visit to the MoD-HIP Programme Office in Abuja, where he underscored the critical link between the health of military families and the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces.
He assured the programme’s management of the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening governance structures to enhance the implementation of its health initiatives.
According to him, with sustained support, the programme has the potential to expand its impact beyond military communities to benefit other Nigerians.
The Permanent Secretary also praised the programme’s achievements within a short period of its establishment, urging its leadership to prioritise strategic partnerships and increased investment in digital health solutions to improve service delivery.
In his remarks, the Director-General of MoD-HIP, Babatunde Solebo, described the visit as a demonstration of purposeful leadership and expressed appreciation for the recognition accorded his office.
Solebo explained that the programme currently operates across 18 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on public health preparedness. He noted that while its initial mandate centred on HIV/AIDS, it has since expanded to include COVID-19 response and mental health care services.
He further highlighted MoD-HIP’s collaborations with key institutions such as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the Nigeria Customs Service, and the United States Embassy, among others, to strengthen public health outcomes.
The Director-General added that the programme plays a vital role in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, while also supporting vulnerable children from military families through scholarship schemes and skill acquisition initiatives.
Solebo identified key areas critical to the sustainability of the programme, including the absorption of over 300 health implementation staff, securing a stable budgetary framework, infrastructure upgrades, and the establishment of an Armed Forces College of Medicine.
Earlier, the Country Director of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Africa, Helina Meri, reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to supporting MoD-HIP’s administrative and technical operations in Nigeria.
She noted that the collaboration has been instrumental in advancing the programme’s success. The event was attended by directors from the Ministry of Defence, MoD-HIP headquarters, and other key stakeholders.
