By Khadija Kubau
The Kaduna State Government and development partners have strengthened their collaboration to improve primary healthcare delivery, with the deployment of Adolescent and Young People (AYP) Safe Space equipment and Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) consumables to selected health facilities across the state.
Launching the intervention on Tuesday at the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board, Deputy Governor Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe said the initiative demonstrated the value of sustained government-partner collaboration in addressing critical health needs.
She said the intervention, supported by Global Affairs Canada through UNICEF, would provide adolescents and young people with access to youth-friendly health information, counselling and services, while the MNCH commodities would strengthen facilities’ capacity to provide quality care to mothers, newborns and children.
Balarabe noted that the state government had continued to prioritize health under its SUSTAIN Agenda, including allocating at least 15 per cent of the state budget to the sector for infrastructure, medicines and equipment, human resources and maintenance of health facilities.
She, however, stressed that government resources alone could not meet the needs of the growing population, making strategic partnerships essential to strengthening the health system.
The Deputy Governor charged the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board and benefiting facilities to ensure proper utilization, maintenance, accountability and sustainability of the donated resources.
The event brought together the State health team led by Commissioner of Health Umma K. Ahmed, PHC Board management and staff led by Executive Secretary Professor Yusuf Bello Jamo, UNICEF, Gates Foundation and other development partners, as well as members of the public.
