UNICEF advocates sustainable health system, implements $1m China development funds to Gombe

National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS) 2018 has indicated that in Gombe state, Out of every 1000 children born, 189 die before the age of 5 years, a figure far higher than the average death in the North-East region.

Also, Uptake of MNCHN services is still below optimal, with 19 per cent births delivered by skilled birth attendants while only 46.4 per cent pregnant women received ANC from skilled providers.

This statistics was given by Bauchi field office of UNICEF which announced that in a move to fight the menace, All is now set for the implementation and utilization by Bauchi field office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), of the sum of $1million donated by the Chinese Government as a support the improvement of Gombe State Primary Health Care service delivery.

The disclosure was made by the UNICEF’s Chief of Bauchi Field Office, Bhanu Pathak, when he led a UNICEF delegation on a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya at the Government House, Gombe on Tuesday.

Bhanu Pathak said that the grant, ‘Support to Primary Health Care’ (PHC), was for the revitalization and improvement of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN ) in the state.

The UNICEF Chief of Field further said that the support has specific focus area which is the facility in Kwami LGA) saying that half of the money will be used for improved outcomes in Kwami LGA, while others will be used in the ten other LGAs of the state.

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He However urged the state government to look in the area of sustainability of all health care supported projects in the state adding that it is by so doing that the target can be achieved.

In his response, Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya while lamenting the statistics regretted that successful administration did nothing or little to correct the problem thereby leaving the state in the situation it is now.

Inuwa Yahaya, however, said that his administration is ready to ensure that the story changes for the better assuring that by the time the next health indices will be released there will have been a significant positive change in the state.

While commissioning UNICEF for championing health and education issues, the Governor promised that his administration will ensure prompt payments of counterpart funds for implantation of products and services by donor agencies for the good of the people of Gombe state.