‘FG Optimistic Of Achieving MDGs’

The Federal Government says with the political will of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led government, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the country will be achieved before the stipulated time frame.

The Permanent Secretary in charge of the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr. Linus Awute, who spoke to The Tide On Sunday  in an interview at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, said the agency in charge of the MDGs is scaling up programmes that would bring to fruition the plans of the federal government towards achieving the set goals within the remaining ten years.

This year, according to Awute is a year of self assessment for the agency, pointing out that with prudent management of funds, adequate funding and accountability, the activities of the health sector are driving towards actualisation.

He noted that the Federal Ministry of Health under the present Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwura, and the Minister of State for Health, Alhaji  Suleiman Bello, is making positive moves at building a driving force for the health sector.

Awute expressed regrets that Nigerians shy away from their responsibilities in many aspects, stressing the need for people to see blood donation as part of their humanitarian service and obligation.

He pointed out that Nigeria at this time needs peace and patriotism and enjoined the citizens to see these attributes as their duty, saying that health ministry was embarking on sensitisation programmes that would make people understand the importance of blood donation.

Shedie Okpara