Writing By Ismai’l Adamu, Editing By Godwin Duru
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says its $8.5 million partnership with the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization (GAVI) and the Katsina State government has resulted in a significant improvement in immunization coverage and healthcare delivery in the state.
The Chief of Kano Field Office of UNICEF, Mr Rahama Farah, stated this while handing over the close-out document of the MoU to Governor Dikko Umar Radda at the Government House in Katsina.
While presenting a review of the achievements of the partnership from 2022 to date, Mr. Rahama Farah noted that it has reduced under-five mortality, increased vaccination coverage and expanded access to essential vaccines for children.
“The partnership has improved measles vaccination coverage, in 2024 over 300 thousand children were vaccinated with penta1 and Penta 3, and over 335,000 with measles vaccine.
“It has also enhanced maternal healthcare, in 2024, 305,752 pregnant women were reached with first antenatal care, representing a 98% increase, while 68,466 mothers have been supported with skilled birth attendance during childbirth.
“It has also resulted in increased health insurance coverage, 28,811 vulnerable people, comprising of pregnant women and mothers of children under five were enrolled under the health insurance programme, covering eight LGAs through 74 PHCs”, Farah said.
He explained that interventions under the partnership have also reduced the prevalence of the Human Papilloma Virus among adolescent girls in the state.
“The partnership has also increased protection against Puman Papilloma Virus (HPV), a total of 683,721 adolescent girls were protected against human papilloma virus in Katsina State”.
The UNICEF Chief of Kano Field Office urged the Katsina State government to sustain the program by consolidating on its achievements.
“The basic infrastructure has been built, we have assets and logistics to sustain the program, we have also recruited professional health workers.
“The issue is that now we have the political will from the governor to continue to provide the resources necessary to maintain the equipment, the assets and also to provide necessary resources to consolidate the gains made under the program”, Farah said.
Isma’il Adamu
