On Tuesday, August 13th, 2024, Edo State had the honour of hosting Margaret Crotty, the President and CEO of John Snow Incorporated (JSI), accompanied by some key members of her team in Nigeria to Benin City. The visit was marked by a warm reception at the Benin Airport from the Directors and Staff of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA).
The welcome ceremony was a grand affair, with a beautiful performance by the Benin Cultural Troupe which danced and sang joyfully, setting a festive mood as a young girl presented Crotty and her team with a bouquet of flowers.
The delegation then proceeded to the EDSPHCDA Headquarters at Ezoti, where they were warmly received by Dr. Omosigho Izedonmwen, the Executive Secretary, EDSPHCDA. During the visit, a presentation was made to the President and CEO JSI and her team highlighting the achievements of the Agency, as well as the gaps and areas where future partnerships could be beneficial.
The State Team Lead JSI-MRITE, Maureen Anyanwu commended the visionary leadership of the Executive Secretary, EDSPHCDA Dr. Omosigho Izedonmwen, and stated to the CEO that the JSI-MRITE team in Edo has enjoyed support from his administration.
In her response, the President and CEO of JSI, Margaret Crotty expressed her gratitude for the warm welcome and praised the Agency for its efforts and good treatment of her team in Edo State. She emphasized JSI’s commitment to improving global health outcomes, noting that this aligns with the Agency’s mission of improving the health outcomes of Edo people. She also expressed her enthusiasm for future collaborations to further this shared goal.
Following the meeting at the EDSPHCDA Headquarters, the President and CEO of JSI and her team were escorted to the Edo State Ministry of Health (SMoH). There, they were received by Dr. Stanley Ehiarinmwian, the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Health (SMoH), who briefed the JSI team on the ongoing work in the healthcare sector and identified areas where partnerships would be particularly valuable.
The day’s events culminated in a visit to the Executive Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Mr. Governor Godwin Obaseki. The Governor and his cabinet warmly welcomed Margaret Crotty and her team. He discussed several healthcare reforms his administration has undertaken, including the reconstruction of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, the introduction of health insurance in Edo State to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for residents, the overhaul of the College of Nursing Sciences, College of Health Sciences and Technology, and the Revitalization of Some Government Clinics formerly known as Primary Healthcare Centres with essential drugs, medical equipment, technology, and staff training.
The Governor invited the JSI team to partner with Edo State to further these initiatives, especially in the area of building the capacity of people who will deliver care at every level especially in the area of technology and data which is a very important aspect of making healthcare great.
Margaret Crotty’s visit continued with a tour of the Aruogba Clinic, formerly Aruogba Primary Healthcare Centre. The clinic is one of the facilities that was upgraded under the Governor’s healthcare initiative. Dr. Izedonmwen reiterated the need for support in bringing other facilities up to the same standard and appealed to JSI for continued partnership to ensure that the people of Edo State continue to receive high-quality healthcare services.
The day concluded with a dinner hosted by the EDSPHCDA in honor of the President and CEO JSI and her team, marking the end of a fruitful visit.
