UNICEF Tasks Katsina Govt On Healthcare Staffing, Drugs

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Katsina State government to ensure adequate staffing, regular supply of essential drugs and proper maintenance of three newly renovated Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state.

The facilities, renovated under the global fund, are the Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCHC), Bakiyawa, in Batagarawa local government area; Sabon Gari Primary Health Centre in Daura and Dandutse Primary Health Centre in Funtua local government area.

Speaking during the handing over of the renovated Bakiyawa MCHC, the Health Manager, UNICEF Field Office Kano, Dr Serekeberehan Seyoum, said sustained investment remains critical to addressing healthcare challenges affecting women, children and other vulnerable groups.

Seyoum called on the state government to provide adequate personnel, essential medicines and supplies, routine maintenance and ensure the prompt commencement of quality services at the facilities.
He said the sustainability of the renovation project would depend on effective management and continued commitment by government authorities and community stakeholders.

According to him, the renovated facilities represented an important step towards improving access to essential healthcare services while creating better working conditions for health workers in the benefiting communities.

Seyoum thanked the Katsina State government, the State Primary Health Care Agency, local government authorities, community stakeholders and the Global Fund for their support, stressing UNICEF’s continued commitment to strengthening the state’s health system.

In her remarks, the acting executive secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr Shema’u Kabir, said the state government would provide additional equipment needed to enable the Bakiyawa facility resume full operations.

Kabir said the agency would assess the facility’s needs and formally request additional equipment from the state government to complement the basic equipment already provided.