By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
There has been an appreciable improvement in service delivery at the Primary Health Care Centres across Gombe State as reported by some stakeholders during a media roundtable discussion.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by UNICEF, GAVI and the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), signed in 2022 has it’s implementation resulting in strengthening of the PHC system in the State.
The project was initiated to achieve an 85 per cent full immunization rate for children by 2024 and improve governance, accountability and service delivery in PHC’s across eight states of the Federation which Gombe was part of it.
Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Bauchi, while speaking at the commencement of a two day media dialogue for Journalists in Gombe and Taraba States highlighted the successes made and attributed it to the collaborative efforts, strategic planning and political commitment.
According to her, “key accomplishments over the past three years include strengthening leadership and coordination through the functional State taskforce operations, expanded routine immunization outreach, leading to reduction in zero doze children in Taraba from 24% to 4%, improved vaccines supply management, minimizing stock out at health service points and recruitment of 440 additional health workers in Gombe State, boosting skilled birth attendant coverage”.
She listed others include renovation of health facilities and installation of solar equipment in Local Government cold stores, increased Skilled Birth Attendants (SBA) coverage in Taraba from 11% to 24%, provision of vehicles for vaccine distribution and supervisory visits, enrollment of 10,000 beneficiaries in the health insurance scheme in Gombe State.
Dr Rafique stressed the urgency of implementing the remaining work plan to meet the overall objectives since the MoU is entering it’s final year.
She affirmed UNICEF’S dedication to improving health and living standards, particularly for children and women in Nigeria and called for collaboration to ensure every child in the region has the opportunity to survive and thrive.
In his presentation, Dr. Abdulrahman Shu’aibu, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Agency (GSPHCA) appreciated UNICEF and GAVI for the numerous contributions enjoyed through the MoU partnership.
He explained how the project works and contributions towards the project by the parties and assured that the State Government will meet all its obligations towards the MoU.
Dr Abdulrahman also highlighted major achievements of the project in the State to include, improved programme coordination and accountability; improved routine immunization in PHC services through the support of vaccine collection outreaches, supervision among others; achieved on an average coverage of 79% for penta 3 quarter 2 2024 DHIS2; capacity building of health workers across all levels, and provision of equipment and consumables (cold chain, chemicals, diagnostic among others).
He also explained that there was engagement of 440 frontline health workers; renovation and upgrade of health facilities; and enrollment of 10,000 beneficiaries into the State’s health insurance scheme.
