Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
The European Union (EU) in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) have earmarked 54 million Euros for Maternal, New-Born, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) outcome project in three Northeast states (Bauchi, Adamawa and Kebbi).
The UNICEF Country Representative, Mohammed Malick Fall, who stated this yesterday during the official handover ceremony of Health Equipment and Medicine to Bauchi State government, said that out of the 54 million Euros, the EU has provided 50 million Euros through a grant, UNICEF contributed 1 million Euros while the three benefiting states are to provide 1million Euros as government counterpart fund.
He said that the project was hinged on sectoral integration that includes health, water and Sanitation/Hygiene, Nutrition, HIV/AIDs, Child Protection, Community Development and social protection in the three target states.
According to him, “In Bauchi State, 1.5 million Children under the age of 5 and 38,000 pregnant women will be reached annually with health services out of the 2.6 million children under 5 years of age and 850,000 pregnant women targeted to be reached with health services annually in the three states”
“The project will also support the implementation of one Primary Health Care PHC per ward in the 323 wards of the 20 LGA in Bauchi State through capacity building of health workers, Community engagement to ensure community resilience, minor renovation of some primary health Care centres, supply of equipment and medicines for Maternal, Newborn and Child health services ” He said
He added that the supplies which are worth about 7 million Euros will contribute to the optimal functionality of the 323 PHC that will open 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, providing quality services.
In his address, Governor Mohammed Abubakar said that his administration has constructed 19 model primary health care facilities to meet the health challenges of the people, adding that the government also established zonal cold stores for medical consumables in Bauchi, Azaro and Darazo local government areas of the state.
While commending EU and UNICEF for its support to the health care system in the state, the Governor assured that communities in the state will benefit from the equipment and medicines donated and called on all the beneficiaries to make good use of the items.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Halima Mukkadas said an NGO, Plan International donated three live saving ambulances to the state, delivery kits, laptops, phones and other health equipment to strengthen health system in the state.
She said about 102 midwives which comprises of community and basic midwives would be deployed to all 323 Primary Health Care centres in the state to strengthen health services in the state.
