By
Muhammad Jamil Abubakar
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has praised the Bauchi State Government for its commitment to primary healthcare development, citing consistent payment of counterpart funding as a key factor.
Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Bauchi, lauded the government during the 2024 Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board Annual Retreat held in Gombe.
She emphasized the importance of increasing financial contributions under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reduce maternal and child mortality rates.
Dr. Rafique also highlighted challenges in the state, noting that seven out of ten deliveries occur at home and many children in some local government areas have never been immunized.
She called for intensified community mobilization and expanded health interventions to address these issues.
According to Dr. Rafique, UNICEF has made a substantial investment of 3.4 trillion Naira in Bauchi State for 2023-2024, with 1.8 trillion Naira allocated to the health sector, representing 53% of the budget.
Deputy Governor Mohammed Auwal Jatau, who declared the retreat open, emphasized the theme, “Towards Achieving Sustainable Primary Health Care Financing in Bauchi State.”
He outlined the importance of the retreat in assessing progress and addressing challenges in healthcare financing and delivery.
The Deputy Governor commended the state’s Primary Health Care Board for improvements in health indicators, including an increase in Penta 3 coverage from 31% to 58% in 2023, as reported in the NDHIS Survey.
He also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government, development partners, and other stakeholders in enhancing healthcare delivery.
The retreat featured expert-led sessions and group discussions aimed at devising strategies for financial sustainability, resource mobilization, and improved healthcare services in Bauchi State.
