Kebbi Govt Pledges to Sustain Women, Child Health Interventions
By Uangbaoje Alex, Birni Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government has pledged to sustain the Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN), interventions in the state, by providing the required funds.
Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Hajiya Aishat Usman, made the commitment while interacting with newsmen on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi.
Kebbi State Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Hajiya Aishat Usman
UNICEF and the European Union are supporting the efforts to improve health and nutrition indices of women and children in the state under the EU-MNCHN project. A project which is expected to end in 2020.
The project, among other interventions by development partners, has significantly improved access to quality healthcare services in the state.
The development has resulted in improved immunisation coverage, uptake of nutrition services and antenatal attendance among others, resulting in a consistent decline in maternal and infant mortality.
Hajiya Usman said that the state government would ensure adequate budgetary provisions to sustain the achievements being recorded in the health and nutrition status of women and children in the state.
She noted that UNICEF and the European Union were among the leading development partners in the state, stressing that they had supported the state significantly in improving maternal and child health.
“The UNICEF and EU team equally supported the state in developing its annual plan for the Ministry of Health and State Primary Health Care Development Agency, including the Health Strategic Plan 2018.
“We have our programme officers working with the UNICEF and EU Teams on the EU-MNCHN project and will acquire the needed capacity to continue with the intervention when the project winds up.
“I want to assure you that the ministry will continue to provide the needed funds in all areas where counterpart funds are required for interventions,” she said.
The permanent secretary added that the ministry would continue to coordinate the activities of all development partners in the state to avoid duplication of efforts.
