GADZAMA APPOINTED NEW EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF FCT PHCB

By: Reginald Uhegbu

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the appointment of Dr. Dan Apagu Gadzama as the substantive Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Health Care Board (PHCB).

Dr. Gadzama takes over from Dr. Ruqayya Wamako, who served in an acting capacity. Prior to his appointment, he was the Director of Public Health in the FCT.

A consultant public health physician and development expert, Dr. Gadzama is widely regarded for his expertise in health systems management, sexual and reproductive health, as well as communicable and non-communicable diseases. The Borno State-born medical practitioner obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from Ahmadu Bello University.

He also earned a Master’s degree in International Course for Health Development (ICHD/MPH) from the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) and Vrije University in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In addition, he is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and a member of the West African College of Physicians.

Dr. Gadzama is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Community Medicine and Public Health at Nile University of Nigeria. Over the years, he has served the FCT Administration in several strategic positions, including Lead Performance Manager for the Saving One Million Lives Initiative (SOML), Head of Primary Health Care Monitoring and Evaluation at the FCT PHCB, Programme Manager of the FCT Emergency Response Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre (FERRICC), and Chief Consultant/Programme Manager of the FCT Malaria Elimination Programme (MEP).

He is also a fellow of several international and national institutions, including the Royal Tropical Institute Netherlands, Japan International Cooperation/Japan Institute of Public Health, Measures Evaluation USAID, the National Institute for Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, and the Public Service Institute of Nigeria.

The new Executive Secretary has equally held notable leadership positions, such as Chairman of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (FCT Chapter), Chairman of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (FCT Chapter), and Head of Research at the FCT Primary Health Care Board.

Dr. Gadzama’s appointment makes him the second substantive Executive Secretary of the Board since its establishment in 2010.

Observers and stakeholders in the FCT health sector have welcomed the appointment with optimism, expressing confidence that his vast experience and leadership qualities will strengthen the FCT Primary Health Care Board and improve primary healthcare delivery across the territory.