Nigerian govt unveils project to improve storage in health facilities

The federal government has assured Nigerians of its commitment to take further measures toward ensuring and improving the storage sections in health facilities in the country through Public Private Partnership (PPP).

The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, gave the assurance when the Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Chidi Izuwa, visited him on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Adewole, while receiving a Full Business Case Compliance (FBC) Certificate for the ‘Warehouse in a Box’ project from the ICRC, also assured speedy approval of the certificate by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ‘warehouse in a box’ project is aimed at promoting more efficient and integrated health sector supply chain management.

It is also to provide additional and effective storage of pharmaceutical commodities and improves the reliability of Nigeria’s logistics supply chain for public health commodities and donor-funded commodities.

According to Mr Adewole, the warehouses in Lagos and Abuja constitute a pride to Nigeria. He said there is no excuse for not putting life into them.

He recalled that the global fund report indicated that Nigeria lost about $3.2 million as a result of drugs expiring in our warehouses.

The minister said: “Just as we were ruminating on how to manage the challenge, I got the invitation to go and visit the box in Abuja. After visiting it, I realised it was a box with a difference.

“These are first class facilities which I believe will help us in putting in place efficient national logistic supply system needed in the country.