Kebbi, UNICEF Sign MoU On Health System Intervention

The Kebbi State government and the United Nations International Children’s Funds ( UNICEF) have entered into an agreement on health system strengthening interventions in the state.

The agreement was assigned during the PHC/MOU Close-Out ceremony at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.

Governor Nasir Idris emphasised during the ceremony his government’s commitment to providing quality and sufficient healthcare services to the people of the state.

Idris also disclosed that plans are underway to recruit an additional 500 health personnel and absorb 309 GAVI-supported staff into the State’s workforce, in addition to aligning health workers’ salaries with the health sector salary scale.

Similarly,  Governor Idris explained that his administration, within two years, had renovated many healthcare centres (PHCs) and provided free delivery kits to pregnant women. He said his government is working for the state to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by the year 2030 in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renowned Hope Initiatives.

Earlier,  UNICEF’s country representative in Nigeria who was represented by Mr Michael Juma commended the governor’s   efforts on the improvement of immunisation coverage, enhanced PHC services and reduction in neonatal mortality from 55% to 49% as well as under 5 mortality from 252 to 159 per 1000 lives births between 2018 and 2024.

He urged the governor to sustain these achievements by increasing budgetary allocations to the health sector.