DR. VERONICA NDIDI YAMA: SEASONED SURGEON

At the time of writing this profile, Dr. (Mrs.) Veronica Ndidi Yama is the Head of Health and Human Services, Bwari Area Council, Federal Capital Territory. She has a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, when she read for her first Degree from 1978 to 1985. She had her First School Leaving certificate in 1973, West African Examination Council Certificate in 1978, Masters Degree in Public Health, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria from 1998 to 2002, Diploma in Computer Utilization and Desktop Publishing in 2001, Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration in 2003.

She has twenty years of Public Service as a practitioner, expert in surgery consulting and as Head of Department, coupled as an administrator, from 1991 to date, she has attended seminars that varied from training workshop on Drug Abuse, 1991, Primary Health Care as it relates to local Government functionaries, 1992, Trainers workshop on monitoring and evaluation 1992, Training on AIDS/HIV Control Programme organized in Abuja, 1992, Women in control Development, 1994, the Role of planning, research and statistics in Local Government Administration, 1996, Workshop on project management and facility maintenance at the local government council 2000, Workshop on introduction to Basic computer and Information Technology, 2001, Workshop on Insecticide Treated Nets, massive production and awareness campaign, (IMPAST), in FCT, 2002, workshop on Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Area Council, through fraud preventing Internal control system, 2002, Scientific seminar of the National Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria, theme: Sustaining the word Health system in Nigeria, the Role of stakeholders, 2002. Workshop on enhancing official Secrecy in the public office, 2003, workshop on Civil Service Reforms and monetization policy 2003, Workshop on crises management, 2004, Workshop on Primary Health Care Management, 2004, Workshop on theme and stress management, 2004, these are some of the brainstorming workshops and seminars attended by beautiful buxom and vivacious Dr. (Mrs.), Veronica Ndidi Yama, improving more knowledge, administrative experience, expanding her ken, serving Nigeria sacrificing, time and energy. I can tell you reasons, why Dr. (Mrs.) Veronica Ndidi Yama can hold any sensitive post today in Nigeria. Apart from being very composed and disciplined, just read this. In the year 1991, she gave lecture and paper presentation to group of professionals, entitled: Use of standing orders by Primary Health Care Staff. Some papers were delivered to other groups on request in 1994, 1999 and 2000. That is how she is deeply incisive, deep in knowledge in 1993, 1999, and 2001, she also delivered enlightenment paper titled: Monitoring and Supervision of clinics. Subsequently in 2000, 2001 and 2002, she presented a paper on Vaccine management. Still in some years of 2000, 2001 and 2002 concurrently, she delivered another educative paper on the Role and responsibilities of the various stakeholders on Immunization programmes. Again through the years of 2000, 2001 and 2002, it was busy years, as she was called upon to present another paper on Aids and Objectives of the National Immunization Days Programmes. These are besides growth monitoring presentation in 2000 and 2001, respectively. There are others like social mobilization in 2000 and 2001 and Aids and its effect on the humans in 2001, use of insecticide, impregnated bed nets in 2001, exclusive breastfeeding in 2001 and 2002, Aids as it affects the youth in 2002, malaria causes, clinical manifesttations, diagnosis, treatment and prevention in 2002 National Immunization Days Training of participants in 2002, 2003 and 2004. This is how versed Dr, (Mrs.) Veronica Ndidi Yama, as a professional surgeon, Public Health Officer, Environmentalist, Administrator par excellence and as a creative citizen. She has notable referees, and references who can vouch for her like any other person, who have watched her at her duty post, some notable Nigerians, who can vouch for this Medical Doctor are Dr. Owolabi, Medical Doctor, Alafia Specialist Hospital Igarra, Edo State, Alhaji Hassan Ahmed, Secretary, Area Council Service Commision, FCT, Abuja, Bishop A.A. Anyiandor, Church of God Mission, North West Zone, Abuja Dr. (Mrs.) Veronica Ndidi Yama reads a lot, writes a lot and sings Gospel Music Intermittently, where time avails itself.

Dr. (Mrs.) Veronica Ndid Yama is a meticulous citizen, articulate and has had a rich educational background. She was at Marywood Primary School, Ebute-Metta- Lagos between 1967 and 1973. She attended Marywood Government Secondary School, Ebute-Metta- Lagos from 1973 – 1978. She was chosen as the best well-behaved student in 1978. During her student’s days at University of Benin, Benin City, as a Medicine student from 1978 to 1985, she was member, Christian Union.

Her working experiences are as diverse as her knowledge of Health. She worked in the Specialist Hospital, Benin City; in 1986. She was the House Officer, consulting general out patients and treatment of minor surgery. She conducted minor surgery operation under consultant supervision and assisting consultant covering major operations. She worked at Police College Clinic Oji River Anambra State, 1987, as National Youth Service scheme, consulting general out patients and treatment of minor aliments and conducted minor surgery operation without supervision. She was in Alafia Specialist Hospital, Auchi, Edo State, 1987. She was medical officer and she gathered wide experience as a consultant general out patients and treatment of minor ailments, conducted minor surgical operations and as well assisted consultant in major surgical operations. By 1989, Dr. (Mrs.) Veronica Ndidi Yama has transformed her services to the Federal Capital Development, Health Department and was posted to Gwagwalada Health Clinic, circa 2001. She was a medical officer ii, in charge of the clinic, supervising the day to day running of the clinic, monitoring and supervising of clinical activities in the clinic, treatment of the general ailments, conducting minor surgical generations, management of in-patient cases. In Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Gwagwalada between 1990 and 1991. In 1991 to be specific, she was transferred and was co-ordinator and Head of Health Department of Kuje council. She was articulately on the field, co-ordinating and supervising of staff of Primary Health Care Department and ensuring the day to day running and other adhoc activities in the Department. She co-ordinated very well the maternal and Child Health, Nutritional Education and Family Planning. She co-ordinated and organized Health education talks consistently on family planning in all the clinics of the Area council activities. She took control and mobilized nutrition control committees at the Area council level and conducted food demonstration and nutrition education for pregnant mothers and mothers of children below five years. She was fiercely involved in organizing and coordinating the breastfeeding week and baby friendly initiatives. She coordinated effectively and efficiently supervision of the purchase of drugs and equipment. She coordinated the drug revolving fund committee meetings and ensured properly and appropriately the implementation of the drugs revolving fund account in the purchase of the drugs.

Dr. (Mrs.) Veronica Ndidi Yama, was directly in charge of Immunization and disease control, she supervised and monitored the conduct of routine and general. Immunization programmes. She supervised, the conduct of mass immunization campaign, especially in cases of outbreak of diseases, such as gastroenteritis, cerebrospinal mentioned etc.

She supervised and monitored the activities of the staff singularly in ensuring that regular monthly reports are received from the various clinics and collated by the assistant coordinator, in charge of monitoring and supervision. All these components of family planning health care are headed by assistant primary health care coordinator, who assisted her in achieving the implementation of all the programmes. In all these programmes, she prepared and forwarded written proposal to the authorities in order to access funds for the conduct of the activities and ensuring the proper implementation of the activities.

In 1993, she was posted back to Gwagwalada Area Council, which lasted till 2003. Here, as an administrator, she was the Head of Health Department and in charge of Primary Health Care, including been a coordinator and supervisor of the staff of the Primary Health Care. She ensured the Day to day running of the activities of other adhoc activities in the department. She efficiently took charge of maternal and child Health and nutritional Health education, because of her through composure, confidence and erudite understanding of issues. This woman of substance organized monitoring social mobilization committee meetings, involving traditional rulers, representations of women organizations, NGOS, Pastors, Imams etc. The committee members participated actively in the planning and implementing of social mobilization strategies at the community district and local government area levels. She worked in collaboration with Health agents such an UNICEF, Who, etc in ensuring the success of the programmes. In the field of malaria control, she enlightened through face to face discussion and more articulate, get-together forums on the effect of malaria and the importance of the use of insecticides impregnated bed nets. At other times, as it applied in other council areas, she organized rallies, market campaigns, and motor park talks on Aids control enlightenment involving traditional rulers, Secondary School Children, Non-Governmental Organizations, traditional birth attendance, patent medicine dealers, and healers. some through workshop and training programmes. In Gwagwalada Area Council in 2002, specifically on 5 th November, she carried out advocacy to the chairman and members of the executive council for the four rounds of the National Immunization Days.

She liked the various representations from other Health agents, who are involved in the immunization activities with the Chairman and members of the Executive Council. She did organize training programmes for the district coordination, team supervision etc. During such training, she lectured on the roles and responsibilities of various members of the immunization team, vaccine management and social mobilization. From Gwagwalada, she moved to Kwali Area council and now in 2007. She is in Bwari Area Council doing same activities as in the provision for different councils.

Call Dr. (Mrs.) Veronica Ndidi Yama, a mobilizer, an agent of change, a patriotic citizen, a selfless individual, an urbane woman, a woman of God, a born again Christian, a mother, a committed individual, an expert, a professional medical doctor, with vast knowledge, and a disciplined administrator. She has seen it all. From the theatre to the field, in the cosy office, she is a substance. This is a time leader, who can hold her head high above the squeamish of corruption, stainless, pure and transparent and sound. She is a woman for award of any kind.

 

By: Emmanuel Y Kwache

30 Gambia Crescent , Bekaji,

Estate, Jimeta – Yola, Adamawa State,

Tel: 080-34363618, 08055531975