The Canadian Government in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has provided Bauchi State with over 4,300 bottles of ‘Vitamin A’ which translates to 1,405,400 doses, valued at N65 million.
Also, UNICEF has extended direct cash assistance of N31.6 million to the state government through the State Primary Healthcare Development Board, to support health interventions for children.
The chief of field officer, UNICEF Bauchi, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, stated this at the launching of the second round of the 2024 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in Bauchi yesterday; she reiterated their commitment to safeguarding the lives of women and children to ensure a healthy society.
The MNCHW is a week-long initiative providing healthcare interventions to pregnant women, lactating mothers, infants, and children under the age of five.
On her part, Bauchi State first lady, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, emphasised the vital role women play in improving family health and urged them to cultivate nutritious foods in their backyards to protect their children and families from malnutrition.
Aisha emphasised the commitment of the present administration of Governor Bala Mohammed towards improving the healthcare system in the state and called on parents to avail their children the opportunity to benefit from the myriad of interventions being provided.
Also speaking, commissioner for Health, Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam, highlighted significant progress made by the state, as reflected in the latest data from the 2023/2024 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
He stated that the state’s immunisation coverage for children aged U-5 had improved from 33% in the NDHS (20I8) to 58% in the 2023/2024 data.
Dambam stressed that similarly, Penta 3 vaccine coverage increased substantially, and coverage for measles vaccines rose from 7% in the 2018 NDHS to 27% in the current survey.
He commended the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, for showing a strong commitment to addressing health challenges by prioritising health as a central pillar of his administration towards improving healthcare infrastructure and increasing budgetary allocation to the sector.
The commissioner, however, acknowledged the rise in maternal mortality rate, and he called for deliberate efforts towards arresting the disturbing indices.
In his remarks, the chairman of Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr Rilwanu Mohammed, emphasized the need to ensure good hygiene among women, which, according to him, helps address various diseases in society.
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