By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has assured that his administration will continue to partner with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in improving maternal and child health in the state.
The Governor gave the assurance on Monday during an Award and Recognition Ceremony for Fathers for Good Health Initiative, a volunteer programme operating in the two Local Government Areas of Misau and Ningi, in the State held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Bauchi.
Bala Mohammed said that Bauchi State has benefitted immensely in its partnership with UNICEF, in the areas of Health and Education pledging to sustain mutual understanding with UNICEF and other partners in enhancing critical sectors of the State.
He applauded UNICEF for initiating the Fathers for Good Health Group to champion the Zero dose vaccination campaign in the two Local government areas benefiting from the initiative.
He also pledged to work in close collaboration with the UNICEF to gear up the initiative to cover all the 13 Local government areas that has Zero dose vaccination record as well as the whole local government areas of the State.
In her remarks, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, explained that with the help of the Fathers for Good Health Group, over 3000 Children have been vaccinated against preventable diseases that could have claimed their lives.
Nuzhat Rafique however lamented over the rate of death among pregnant women who could not attend ante natal services due to lack of availability of health facilities.
She called on the State Government to intensify efforts to scaleup the initiative to all the 20 local government areas of the State.
The UNICEF Chief of Field Office commended the efforts and sacrifices of the Fathers for Good Health group in the two local government areas of Ningi and Misau for championing the Vaccination campaign in their respective Areas.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Muhammad, commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his giant strides in Healthcare development in the state which he said is attracting international partners in health sector.
He appreciated UNICEF for its continued support in providing robust health care initiatives that are beneficial to the State citizens.
