Kebbi, Partners Launch Primary Healthcare Initiative

The Kebbi State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), has launched a strategic initiative to strengthen primary healthcare and improve community health systems across the state.

This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Yunusa Musa-Ismail, during a two-day engagement meeting held in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.

The meeting was convened under a UNICEF programme funded by GAC, aimed at enhancing access to gender-responsive sexual and reproductive health, maternal, newborn, child health, and nutrition services.

Dr Musa-Ismail expressed the state government’s appreciation to GAC for selecting Kebbi as one of only three Nigerian states to benefit from the initiative.

“We will do everything humanly possible to support and promote healthcare services at all levels,” the Commissioner said.

“Last year, the government equipped 14 healthcare centres, and 500 newly recruited health workers will undergo training to ensure effective service delivery.”

He reaffirmed the government’s full commitment to the initiative’s successful implementation, noting that implementation templates would be developed to ensure consistency and impact.

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The Commissioner urged participants to thoroughly engage with the plan and ensure strict compliance to maximise its effectiveness.

In his remarks, Mr Michael Juma, Chief of UNICEF’s Sokoto Field Office, emphasised the urgent need to rethink health service delivery in Kebbi, especially in light of alarming health indicators.

“Malnutrition remains high, as does the prevalence of early marriage,” Juma noted.

“Healthcare delivery in the 21st century requires a paradigm shift.”

He revealed that the programme aims to reach over 2.6 million women and children across Kebbi, Bauchi, and Kaduna states, tackling pressing issues including adolescent pregnancy, malnutrition, and anaemia.

The initiative also seeks to empower women and adolescents to claim their health rights and improve accountability in service delivery.

Juma praised Kebbi’s commitment to the partnership, describing the initiative as a bold step towards achieving equitable and quality healthcare for its citizens.

NAN