By joshua 
Kogi State Government Assures of integrating expert observation, building Flood Resilience, Mitigation
… Partners Heinrich Böll Foundation and Arctic Infrastructure.
The Kogi State Government says it is committed to working towards integrating experts and professional observations identified as measures that would help build resilience and mitigate flooding in the State.
The Kogi State Commissioner Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza made the disclosure when he received in audience Heinrich Böll Foundation and Arctic Infrastructure, who are in the State for a validation meeting of the “Ganaja community’s charter of demand for flood resilience”.
Receiving the team in his office for an advocacy, the Commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs Omenike Dorcas Enehe, disclosed that the State Government is building several Primary Health Care Centres across the State, assured the Ganaja Community of a Primary Health Care that will meet the need of the people following the damaged caused the Community’s PHC by previous flooding.
The Commissioner disclosed that the present administration of Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo has placed the health needs of the people of the State as a top priority, assured that the State Ministry of Health will look at plans and design of the model design PHC that are flood resistant by Arctic Infrastructure for study.
The Commissioner expressed appreciation to Arctic Infrastructure for finding the State worthy of intervention, assured of a working collaboration for the benefit of building flood resilience and mitigation.
Earlier in her remarks,
Hannah Balogun – Adebiyi, Deputy Head of Project, Arctic Infrastructure said the advocacy visit by Heinrich Böll Foundation and Arctic Infrastructure was to intimate the State Government on the outcome of it findings on Primary Health Care Centres as a result of flooding that affects states in the country, with Ganaja PHC as a pilot across the State.
She disclosed that following the devastating effect of flooding in some part of the Country, the need for Climate resistance PHC, build sustainability, that would mitigate and build flood resilience PHCs in community’s, necessitated the intervention by Heinrich Böll Foundation and Arctic Infrastructure.
The findings from engagement with Ganaja Community as a pilot she disclosed called for developing an alternative road in the Community during flooding.
Furthermore, the construction of a PHC that is close and accessible to the people as well as one that is adaptable to flooding using construction materials that are flood resistant was what the people desire.
She added that the community requested a PHC that should not be too close to the river, appealed for the demand to be integrated into the plans of the State Government.
Earlier in her remarks, Ms. Eunice Agbogun, Executive Director, Challenged Parenthood Initiative, a sister partner to Heinrich Böll Foundation and Arctic Infrastructure, said the outcome of the engagement with the Ganaja Community if implemented in the State would help in flood resilience and mitigation on PHC across the State.
Other places visited by Heinrich Böll Foundation and Arctic Infrastructure for advocacy include; the Geographical Information System, Ministry of Environment, State Universal Basic Education Board and the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management as well as the Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning.