Buhari Approves New Appointments In Health Institutions

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of heads of five strategic health institutions in the country.

In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations in Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Bolaji Adebiyi, the new head of the Centre for Disease Control is the Managing Partner of EpiAfric, a public health consultancy firm that focuses on Africa, Dr. Chikwe Andreas Ihekweazu. He takes over from Prof. Abdulsalami Nasidi.

Dr. Sani Aliyu, a consultant in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Cambridge University, U.K. is the new head of the National Agency for the Control of Aids. He takes over from Prof. John Idoko.

The President also appointed Prof. Babatunde Salako as the head of the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research. He was the Provost, College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan before his new appointment. He takes over from Prof. Innocent Ujah.

A professor of Paediatrics and Public Health at the University of Nevada, in the United States, Prof. Echezona Ezeanolue was appointed the new Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency. He replaced Doctor Mohammed Ado.

The National Health Insurance Scheme is now headed by Prof. Usman Yusuf, who until his appointment, was a professor of Paediatrics at St. Jude Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee in the United States. He replaced Mr Olufemi Akingbade, who was in acting capacity.

All appointments, according to the statement, takes immediate effect.