By Danjuma Attah, Gombe
Three communities affected by last year’s flooding in Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe States are to benefit from a recovery and resilience project courtesy of Rural Health Mission Nigeria.
Mohammed Sadiq, the, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rural Health Mission Nigeria, while addressing newsmen in Gombe said the project which is ongoing at the moment are in Maikaho in Gombe State, Gamawa in Bauchi State and Nengere in Yobe State.
Mohammed explained that, the project which commenced in February 2025 and expected to last for seven months, aims at supporting the three communities by renovating their health facilities that were destroyed by flooding last year, provide clean water and solar panels.
The communities chosen were selected because they are prone to flooding. “We focus on health facilities because it is the backbone of the community. Without healthcare the communities will be exposed to diseases and disasters sometimes leading to outbreaks particularly when water is contaminated after flooding, for instance, cholera. So we want to make sure the health centres work”, he stressed
The project is also expected to support 500 vulnerable persons from the three communities with livelihood incentives. These are pregnant women, people with disabilities (PWD), old persons above 60 years with no source of income as well as farmers.
According to him, “life saving bed kits for pregnant women such as delivery packs, gloves, blades and others needed in the delivery room had been provided to 50 women as well as cash supports in each of the three communities. Some even invested and got profits before giving birth.
“Fifteen (15) persons with disabilities (PWD’s) in each of the communities have been supported with money that they can use. Also fifteen (15) elderly persons above 60 years with no stable income were supported in each of the communities with lively incomes.
“50 farmers in each of the three communities have been given four weeks training on sustainable agriculture, provided with chicks, goats, rabbits etc as well as fertilizers, sprayers, seeds pesticides etc for the coming rainy season.
“The seven months project started in February with disbursement of cash. We are almost at the last stage of the project, that is the farmers. Due to the rainy season, we are now giving them the packages”, he stated.
Mohammed explained further that Rural Health Mission Nigeria has volunteers in the communities in the last three years who have been reporting to them.
He pointed out that it was after they personally went to the rural areas and assessed the flooded communities that they sought for funding from the Centre for Disaster Philanthropy.
Speaking on sustainability plan for the project, Mr Mohammad said, “we have a plan of following up with our consultant to see how they are progressing beyond the seven months using the Community Development Committees (CDC).
End.
