The Jigawa state government has pledged to sustain the implementation of the health intervention programme sponsored by GAVI and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The Health Systems Strengthening initiative is a three-year partnership programme being implemented by GAVI/UNICEF and eight participating states across Nigeria.
It seeks to strengthen routine immunisation and primary healthcare systems to reduce morbidity and mortality, by addressing vaccine preventable deaths and enhancing access to essential services
Gov. Umar Namadi said this during the handing-over of the programme, on Thursday in Dutse.
Represented by his deputy, Aminu Usman, the governor lauded the commitment and resilience of the partners for driving the project to a logical conclusion.
“The objectives of the partnership are in line with our administration’s 12-Point Agenda, and so we accorded much priority to the health sector through the revitalisation of the primary healthcare centers at the grassroots.
“As an outcome of the MoU, we have been able to achieve a lot and the most significant is the funding of about 142,500 beneficiaries in 27 local governments, to an insurance cover,” he said.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammed Abdullahi Kainuwa, said the state recorded modest achievements in the health sector under the three-year partnership.
He listed the achievements to include vaccination of 416,250 adolescent girls against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), improvement of vaccine storage capacity through procurement and installation of a walking cold room, freezers and solar refrigerators.
Others included provision of three logistic vehicles to support vaccine distribution and the recruitment of 330 medical personnel.
Kainuwa commended religious and traditional leaders for their support towards creating awareness and mobilising participation in healthcare services during the three-year programme.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Kabiru Ibrahim commended the governor and partners for their supports towards improving healthcare service delivery in the state.
He noted that the Namadi administration’s commitment to strictly adhere to the guidelines and policies of the federal ministry of health as commendable.
Ibrahim said that the NDHS report indicated a reduction in the Under-5 mortality rate from 213 to 161 per 1,000 live births between 2018 and 2023.
“There was four fold increase in measles vaccination, five fold increase in antenatal care coverage and four fold increase in skilled birth attendance,” he said.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Shehu Sambo said the MoU has attracted new health related legislations in the state.
He said the partnership encouraged coordination among stakeholders, improved quality intervention in human resource management and attracted more funding for primary healthcare services.
NAN
