Gov Bala Laud UNICEF For Support To Bauchi Health Sector

By Khalid Idris Doya

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi 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.

Bala Mohammed gave this assurance yesterday 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.

According to him, Bauchi State has benefited 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.

Governor Bala 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.

Senator Bala Muhammad similarly pledged to work in close collaboration with UNICEF to gear up the initiative to cover all the 13 Local government areas that have Zero dose vaccination record as well as the whole local government areas of the State.

He highlighted his administration’s commitment to health, noting that 15% of the state’s annual budget is consistently allocated to the sector to ensure effective healthcare services

The UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique has in a remark 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.

The UN agency however lamented over the rate of death among pregnant women who could not attend antenatal services due to lack of availability of health facilities. 

Nuzhat Rafique called on the State Government to intensify efforts to scale up 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.

Also speaking, 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 the health sector.

Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed therefore appreciated UNICEF for its continued support in providing robust  health care initiatives that are beneficial to the State citizens.

During the awards, the Fathers for Good Health Group, an initiative under UNICEF in Bauchi State, honored Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed as its Grand Patron.

The initiative aims to enhance immunisation and improve health outcomes, particularly for children and women, by engaging men as volunteers to promote vaccine acceptance and other health programs.  

At the ceremony, the Emirs of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleimanu Adamu, and Dass, Alhaji Usman Bilyaminu Othman, were also decorated as Patrons of the group. 

Volunteers from Ningi and Misau Local Government Areas received awards, certificates, and cash support for their contributions.