Finally after nearly two months of waiting, Nigeria has a new Minister of Health, Professor Adenike Grange. Dr. Grange has served as the President of the International Paediatric Association, a non-governmental organization with a membership of National Paediatric Societies in 136 countries and 10 Regional Paediatric Societies. Prior to joining IPA, Dr. Grange worked at the Department of Paediatrics of the College of Medicine at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. Dr. Grange represents Nigeria as a member of Applied Diarrhoeal Disease Research (ADDR) and has served as a Director at GAVI, formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation. She has also worked as coordinator of Women’s Health Organisation, Nigeria. Positions that she has held in the past include WHO Adviser on Reproductive Health Programme in Nigeria (1993 to 1999) and Consultant in Child Health and Reproductive Health Programmes to Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and USAID. Prof Grange has authored over fifty scientific papers in national and international peer-reviewed journals. She also served as Faculty on the 2006 Sexuality Institute of the Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre
With her broad range of international, national and local experience, in statutory and non-statutory sectors, it appears that Nigeria’s health sector may experience a boost under her tenure. Particularly heartwarming was her acknowledgement during her screening session in the Senate of the importance of prevention and the dissemination of information.As a paediatrician, it is our hope that she will take charge of the National Programme on Immunization ensuring that it reaches its full potential
To support her as junior minister is Gabriel Aduku, a past president of the Nigerian Institute of Architects and subject of a biography by Nnimmo Bassey
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has…Margaret Mead