Ehanire Aplauds Ihekweazu’s Transformational Role at NCDC

Onyebuchi Ezigbo

The Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire has described the performance of the outgoing Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu

as highly transformational.

While commending the outgoing NCDC boss for successfully leading the agency in the last five years, Ehanire said the period Ihekweazu held sway at the NCDC witnessed great transformation and global recognition.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Health, Mallam Mamman Mahmuda, the Minister said President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that there should be smooth transition leading to hands over by Iheakweazu to his successor on November 1.

He said: ‘ Ihekweazu joined NCDC as a nascent institution and has led the agency through a period of remarkable transformation and global recognition.

“Under his leadership, Nigeria’s health security capacity has improved, evidenced by the improved capabilities and resources for infectious disease control.

“His appointment by WHO is a recognition of his excellence and professionalism and re-iterates Nigeria’s contribution to global health”.

The statement added: “Federal Ministry of Health welcomes the appointment of Dr. Ifedayo Morayo Adetifa, as the incoming Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari. This follows the recent appointment of the current NCDC Director General, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu as Assistant Director General of Health Emergency Intelligence at the World Health Organization (WHO).

Adetifa is an Epidemiologist and Consultant Paediatrician who is currently an Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), United Kingdom, and Clinical Epidemiologist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP) in Kilifi, Kenya.

He is a graduate of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, and completed his specialist training in Paediatrics and Child Health at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos to become a Fellow of the West Africa College of Physicians.

During residency, he also received training in infectious diseases at the Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, and at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.