The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has congratulated his wife, Barr. Toyin Saraki on her recent appointment as Special Advisor to World Health Organization’s (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO).
Saraki in a tweet on his tweeter handle, (@bukolasaraki) on Monday wrote; “Congratulations my dear @ToyinSaraki. Appointment well-deserved!”
Similarly, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad urged Barr. Saraki to use her new appointment in making accessible and affordable healthcare delivery, a reality in Africa.
Ahmad, in his congratulatory message on Tuesday to the Founder/ President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, noted the African continent was bedeviled with numerous health challenges, and expressed confidence that she would put her experience in working closely with Midwives on the front line, as part of the global every woman, every child strategy, to end all preventable, maternal, new born and child deaths by 2030.
Barr. Saraki has continued to break new grounds in her efforts at helping vulnerable people across Africa.
The appointment was made earlier this month by Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, in a move intended to bring Mrs Saraki’s considerable front-line experience to bear on WHO strategy and policy.
The former Kwara first lady’s maiden engagement in her new role will take place this week at the 3rd meeting of the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Responding to her appointment, Mrs Saraki said: “As a global champion for UHC, I advocate for a fuller understanding of its benefits, which go beyond health outcomes and include improved gender equality, higher levels of preparedness for epidemic outbreaks and transformative economic effects.
“As global goodwill ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives, I particularly welcome the introduction of WHO AFRO’s focused curriculum for the professional qualification education of Midwives and Nurses in Africa. “I am looking forward to hitting the ground running in my new role as special advisor at the Independent Advisory Group meeting this week in Johannesburg.
“The experience I have gained as Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, working closely with our midwives on the frontline, as part of the global Every Woman Every Child Strategy to end all preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, including stillbirths, by 2030, will inform my advice to the WHO.”
Last week, Mrs Saraki was named as “Health-for-All Champion” and one of four women making waves in global health by Devex, the international development media platform and social enterprise.
