EU, UNICEF Earmarks 54m Euros for MNCHN Projects
The European Union, EU in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF has earmarked 54 million Euros for Maternal, NewBorn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) outcome project in three Northeast states of Bauchi, Adamawa and Kebbi.
The UNICEF Country Representative, Mohammed Malick Fall who stated this yesterday during the official handover ceremony of Health Equipment and Medicine to Bauchi State government, said that out of the 54 million Euros, the EU had provided 50 million Euros through a grant, UNICEF contributed 1 million Euros while the three benefiting states were to provide 1million Euros as government counterpart fund.
He said that the project was hinged on sectoral integration that includes health, water and Sanitation/ Hygiene, Nutrition, HIV/AIDs, Child Protection, Community Development and social protection in the three target states.
According to him, "In Bauchi State, 1.5 million Children under the age of five and 38,000 pregnant women will be reached annually with health services out of the 2.6 million children under five years of age and 850,000 pregnant women targeted to be reached with health services annually in the three states"
"The project will also support the implementation of one Primary Health Care PHC per ward in the 323 wards of the 20 LGA in Bauchi State through capacity building of health workers, Community engagement to ensure community resilience, minor renovation of some primary health Care centres, supply of equipment and medicines for Maternal, Newborn and Child health services," he said.
He added that the supplies which were worth about 7 million Euros would contribute to the optimal functionality of the 323 PHC that would open 24 hours per day, seven days a week, providing quality services.
In his address, Governor Mohammed Abubakar said that his administration had constructed 19 model primary health care facilities to meet the health challenges of the people, adding that the government also established zonal cold stores for medical consumables in Bauchi, Azaro and Darazo local government areas of the state.