UNICEF Bauchi Field Office Calls For Increased Funding and Timely Released of Resources Towards Reducing Maternal, Newborn and Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality Rates
By Uzairu Dauda Bunga:
Unicef Bauchi field office, has called for increased funding and timely release of resources towards reducing maternal, newborn, and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates by governments.
Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, during a Media Dialogue on Strengthening Primary Health Care Systems as part of the GAVI-UNICEF PHC Memorandum of Understanding being implemented in Gombe and Taraba states under UNICEF Bauchi Field Office.
Dr. Nuzhat emphasized UNICEF’s mission to improve the health of every child and mother, urging pregnant women to attend and complete antenatal care, and to give birth at health facilities, and praised state governments for their efforts in reducing the burden of zero-dose children describing it as a great achievement.
She said despite the progress made in states, particularly in saving the lives of pregnant women and newborns.
Dr. Nuzhat highlighted the need for more to be done to address gaps in vaccine compliance within communities. She also described journalists as key players in changing negative narratives and misconceptions about vaccines, urging them to continue supporting the cause as vital allies of UNICEF.
ExecutiveSecretary Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Board,Dr. Abdulrahman Shuaibu, noted that the state had made significant progress since signing the PHC MoU in 2022, with the oversight from the federal government. This partnership, he said, has helped reduce the number of zero-dose children.
Dr. Shuaibu also highlighted key improvements made in the state, including the renovation of 114 health facilities, the engagement of 440 frontline health workers, and the enrollment of 17,000 poor and vulnerable children into the state’s health insurance scheme. He expressed gratitude to GAVI PHC for their continued support.
The Taraba reports presented by Dr. Jimoh, a UNICEF Health Specialist, pointed out that the introduction of “Mama2Mama group” a community women volunteer initiative, have been instrumental in reducing zero-dose rates by identifying and referring 144,278 pregnant women for antenatal care and 77,073 newborns for routine immunization.
Providing an overview on the GAVI MoU which covers Gombe and Taraba states, Dr. David Audu, UNICEF health Specialist, Bauchi Field Office, stated that the primary health care system remains weak due to poor infrastructure, human resource shortages, and funding gaps.
He noted that from 2003 to 2018, Nigeria ranked second highest globally for under-five, neonatal, and infant mortality rates, which led to the initiation of the PHC MoU to strengthen the health system in Nigeria.
