Benjamin Anyene
{{short description|Nigerian doctor and politician (b. 1951, d. 2019)}}
{{tone|date=May 2020|reason=use of superlatives.}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Benjamin Anyene
| office = Commissioner for Health Anambra State
| image =
| caption =
| termend = 2003
| termstart = 2000
| birth_date = 8 June 1951
| birth_place = Eastern Region, Nigeria
| death_date = {{death date and age |2019|12|29|1951|6|8|df=yes}}
| death_place = New York (State), U.S.
| nationality = Nigerian
| spouse = Lady Ngozi Ayene
| children = 4
| occupation = {{Hlist|Physician|microbiologist|politician|public health reformer}}
| profession =
| committees =
}}
Benjamin Chukwudum Nnamdi Anyene (8 June 1951 – 29 December 2019) was a Nigerian physician, microbiologist, politician and public health reformer. He served as the Commissioner for Health in Anambra State from 2000 to 2003.{{Cite web|accessdate=2020-03-07|title=Dr Ben Anyene: A visionary Health reformer|url=http://nigeriahealthwatch.com/dr-ben-anyene-a-visionary-health-reformer-who-spoke-truth-to-power/#.XmQBv2Qo-DZ|date=23 January 2020|website=Nigeria Health Watch}}
He was influential in ensuring that the Nigerian National Health Bill was signed into law and was at the forefront in demanding its full implementation.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/piloting-national-health-act-illegal-261831.|title=Piloting national health act illegal|last1=Okafor|first1=Judd-Leonard|date=20 July 2018|website=DailyTrust|accessdate=2020-03-07}} {{Dead link|date=May 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Pai |first1=Bilkisu |title=Group calls for full implementation of National Health Act |url=https://www.von.gov.ng/group-calls-for-full-implementation-of-national-health-act |website=VON |publisher=Voice of Nigeria |accessdate=9 March 2020 |date=20 July 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://dailytimes.ng/2018/07/20/national-healthcare-act-key-improving-healthcare-system|title=National Healthcare Act, key in improving heNational healthcare act key improving healthcare system|date=20 July 2018|website=Daily Times|accessdate=9 March 2020}} {{Dead link|date=May 2020}}
Personal life
Dr. Anyene was married to Lady Ngozi K. Anyene.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-09 |title=Ben Anyene: Tribute to a public health reform expert - Daily Trust |url=https://dailytrust.com/ben-anyene-tribute-to-a-public-health-reform-expert/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=dailytrust.com/ |language=en-US}} They have four children.
Positions and committees
Dr. Anyene was a health activist, reformer, visionary, and advocate for Nigeria's health sector. He was the Chairman of the National Immunization Financing Task Force Team (NIFT){{cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria-set-to-resume-vaccine-production-eyes-280m-from-export|title=Nigeria set to resume vaccine production, eyes $280m from export|last1=Busari|first1=Abosede|date=26 October 2016|website=The Guardian |accessdate=8 March 2020}} and was the Chairman of the Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC).{{cite web |last1=Otokpa |first1=Regina |title=Adequate immunisation could reduce 25% of children's death –Anyene |url=https://www.newtelegraphng.com/adequate-immunisation-could-reduce-25-of-childrens-death-anyene |website=New Telegraph |accessdate=9 March 2020 |date=21 November 2019}}
He was a board member and Chairman Board Technical Committee, National Primary Health Care Development Agency between 2001 and 2015. He led the development and advocacy for the passage of the National Health Bill by the National Assembly and its executive assent by Former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014.
Between 2008 and 2014, Dr. Anyene served as the National Policy/Immunization Advisor, a DFID and Norwegian Government program for Revitalizing Routine Immunization and Maternal Newborn and Child Health in Northern Nigeria.
He also served as the Vice Chairman of the White Ribbon Alliance Nigeria for Safe Motherhood, and was a member of the Nigeria Academy of Science Vaccines and Immunization Committee.{{cite book |last1=Academies of Sciences |first1=National |title=Global Health Risk Framework: Governance for Global Health: Workshop Summary. |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK362970 |via=NCBI |publisher=National Academies Press |accessdate=9 March 2020 |location=USA |date=11 May 2016}}
He fulfilled the duties of a member of the Iwuanyanwu committee that raised funds for Nigeria's first participation in the 1994 USA FIFA Football world cup tournament.{{cite web|url=https://newsprobeng.com/eulogies-for-dr-ben-anyene|title=Eulogies For Dr Ben Anyene|last1=Anatune|first1=Joe|date=6 March 2020|website=NewsProbe|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315174819/https://newsprobeng.com/eulogies-for-dr-ben-anyene/ |archive-date=2020-03-15 |accessdate=8 March 2020}}