Commissioner happy with Red Cross
By SALIHU N. MUHAMMED

KANO state commissioner of health, Dr. Sanda Muhammed has expressed appreciation over activities of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), particularly Kano state branch.
Dr. Muhammad made this assertion through the permanent secretary in the ministry, Hajiya Salamatu Garba while receiving health delegates form Swedish Red Cross who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
He reiterated that the ministry would continue to support the Red Cross in line with the improvement of health care services in the state.
The delegates also paid similar advocacy visit to Global HIV/AIDS Initiative Nigeria (GHAIN), Kano state office.
The state project manager, Malam Tijjani Muhammad commended the NRCS for its involvement in HIV/AIDS programmes in the state.
He pointed out that the areas of their focus which include treatment and prevention services, and support to the People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), and urged the Red Cross to submit its proposal and pledged to give them necessary support.
Others include Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) services, prevention of mother-to- child transmission as well as care for the orphans and vulnerable children in the state.
He stressed that Ghain has about 18 heart -to- heart centers in the state and working hand-in-hand with the State Action Committee on AIDs (SACA) in collaboration with some NGOs so as to prevent the prevalence of the HIV/AIDS virus through community mobilization.
In her speech, the leader of the health delegates, Mrs. Elizabeth Turesson, stated that they were in the country to give their assistance to the Nigerian Red Cross Society in order to improve the healthcare programme.
She said that they have visited Abuja, Niger, Lagos, Oyo, and Kano states respectively.
Mrs Elizabeth expressed satisfaction over the cooperation given to the Red Cross by the health ministry and Ghain project, Kano office.
She added that NRCS has Mother’s Club wing which works on the issue of child care and home based care for PLWHA operating in three local government councils in the state namely; Tarauni Minjibir, and Madobi.
She disclosed that in each local government, there are 30 trained volunteer women, and assured the NRCS’ continued support and cooperation.