MCRP: World Bank Technical Support Team Visits Borno, Commends Governor Zulum

By Abdulkareem Haruna

A World Bank Technical Support Team (TST) on the Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP), recently visited Borno state on a mission to carry out performance evaluation, monitoring and enhancement of the project’s local team performance. 

The team, led by the Task Team Leader on Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) Serena Cavicchi, had earlier met with the Borno state governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, who gave them some key heads up on the progress made so far, the challenges and some areas needing improved support and collaborations. 

Ms Cavicchi was accompanied on the visit by the consultant to the World Bank on MCRP Project, Masroor Ahmed;  Chidozie AG, Agricultural Economist; Anas Abba Kyari, Senior Procurement Specialist; Professor Ahmed Chinade, Environmental Safeguard; and Nkem Uzochukun C1 and C3 specialist.

The TST later had a special session with the Borno State MCRP officials at the Technology Incubation Hub in Maiduguri with the Borno State Coordinator of MCRP, Baba Zanna Abdulkarim leading in briefing the TST on activities carried out by his local team. 

Later, the TST, led by Mr Abdulkarim, visited one of the 25 health facilities built by the project at Abujan talakawa area, a suburb of Maiduguri, where the officer in charge of the clinic Yachilla Waziri informed the visitors that Borno MCRP did not only build the Primary health Center but also supported the clinic with solar power installations, a borehole and essential drugs.

While commending the Borno State Government and the World Bank for its interventions, Ya chilla also solicited the expansion of its immunization cold room and construction of shades for out-patients adding that the clinic operates 24-hour services with an average of 80 patients daily.

Ms Cavicchi and her team had also visited the Maiduguri Chest Clinic, where they were received and conducted round the facility by the Medical Officer in charge of the Clinic Dr Mustafa Bintube. 

Dr Bintube informed the TST  that the hospital serves as a referral centre being the only specialized Hospital on chest diseases in the entire northeast of Nigeria. 

The Medical Officer Clinic receives patients not only in northeastern Nigeria but from Chad, Niger, and Cameroon. He said apart from providing clinical services, the clinic also serves as a Data Collection Centre for the World Health Organization and other UN organizations on Tuberculosis.

Before its reconstruction by the Borno State Government through the MCRP intervention, Dr Bintube said “the clinic hardly operates due to neglect and dearth of medical equipment.”  He added that with the special intervention from MCRP which brings the clinic back to life, the facility had recorded over two hundred cases of TB mostly from northern Borno occasioned by the insurgency induced displacement.

Currently, he said the hospital is planning to commence admission of inpatients as soon as new staff are employed by the Borno State Government.

The World Bank Team had also visited the new Borno State E-Library as one of the 54 public buildings constructed by the MCRP across Borno State. From there the team were led to Gwange-2 Primary School to see the Mega School construction and furnished by the Project through the Borno State Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement.

The TST also inspected the 66 km Maiduguri –Bama road still under construction where the team leader appreciated the performance of Borno State MCRP officials for their commitment and the state government for “its determination to better the lots of the people affected by the insurgency.”

Away from the numerous project site visits, The World Bank Team also had a technical session with some government officials from the line MDAs, in which the Project is carrying out its interventions. The MDAs comprised the Ministry of Works, Education, Local Government and Emirate Affairs, Water Resources, Health and Human Services, and Agriculture. Also at the technical session were members of the peace group, community leaders and relevant CSOs who provide third party monitoring oversights.

At the end of their working tours and meetings, Ms Cavicchi and her team of experts met Governor Zulum at his office where they briefed him on their findings. 

The team leader Serena Cavicchi commended the Governor for “being proactive and taking the lead”.  She stressed that Mr Zulum’s commitment might not be unconnected with him being the pioneer State Coordinator of the Project in Borno State Before his election.

Expressing his delight at the end of the visit, the Borno State MCRP Coordinator, Mr Abdulkarim, said apart from technical knowledge gained, the visit has also strengthened the State MCRP Team on how to execute the project activities in line with the Bank’s Standard and global best practices. 

He said doing the right thing in the best manner serves  the ordinary people in whose interest the Government and the Bank are carrying out the various life-enhancing activities which cut across, water, sanitation and hygiene,  Agriculture, Public Buildings, Education, Transport and nonfood items among others

He noted that all the interventions and supports being rendered by the World Bank to the people through the Federal and Borno State Governments were aimed at promoting and building peaceful coexistence, reconstruction, resettlement and recovery among those affected by the over a decade long insurgency that pervades Borno and the North East in general.

Additional reports, photographs provided by Bulama Yerima

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