For consistently engineering strategies of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases and coordinating research and training of specialists, the Freelance Journalists Federation ((FJF) has honoured the management of the National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna.

According to the federation, the center, despite paucity of funds and other challenges, has excelled in the areas of; human capacity development, accountability and due process in resource utilisation thereby deserving encouragement.

Presenting a plaque to the Medical Director of the Centre, Dr Mustapha Yaro, ((FJF administrator, Solomon Semaka explained that the award of International Health and Safety Standards was a confirmation of the views of Nigerians from all works of life.

“The 2021 extraordinary award committee has its members drawn from the civil society, religious organisations and the media. The Committee is at the National Ear Care Centre Kaduna on a mission to confirm the views of ordinary Nigerians as reflected in our surveys; as well as convey appreciation of Nigerians to the leadership and management of this great institution” above all to Mr President for his commitment to health sector revolution in Nigeria.

“Since the establishment of the centre, it has grappled with multiple challenges, ranging from lack of funding, inadequate infrastructure amongst others. But in the face of all this challenges, successive managements of the centre have continued to do their best to offer essential services to the public in line with the Act establishing the centre.

“The most outstanding milestone recorded under the current management based on our assessment has been in the areas of; human capacity development and staff training; accountability and due process in resource utilisation, improved staff professionalism and ethics; above all, the centre has continued to be public sector driven. Under the current management, the drive for research has doubled. These efforts no doubt have yielded tremendous accolades for the centre both nationally and internationally. The many reforms by the current management of the centre have enhanced the availability of essential services the centre was established to provide”, the group noted.

The Forum regretted that despite the huge achievements recorded at the centre, much was not heard of and pledged to support in publicising the good works going on in the centre.

“…it is pertinent to note that regardless of whatever successes recorded in the centre, if the achievements are not properly reported by the media, the fundamental objective of the centre; which is, to offer essential ear care services to Nigerians would be defeated. Nigerians need to know about the centre, what essential services they offer to the masses.

“It is for this reason that the committee is here to honour the management and to offer a hand of partnership to help in promoting the image and activities of the centre using our broad based digital and mainstream platforms”, Semaka assured.

Earlier, while conducting the delegation round some of the physical infrastructural achievements of the centre, the MD lauded the forum for identifying with the centre saying it was the height of patriotism.

Dr Mustapha Yaro while assuring that the centre under his watch will continue to strive to achieve its mandate highlighted some of the gains made under his watch.

He listed procurement of radiology and laboratory equipment, conversion of pharmacy block to a storey building, renovation of ENT blocks, post basic ENT nursing and students hostels, construction of two hundred seats capacity lecture auditorium amongst many others.