The Gombe and Taraba State Governments have been urged to urgently integrate all health workers engaged through the GAVI-UNICEF Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) into the state’s civil service to enhance effective and efficient healthcare service delivery.
This call was made by the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, during a media dialogue on Strengthening Primary Healthcare Systems: GAVI PHC MoU in Gombe and Taraba States, held in Gombe.
Dr Rafique also encouraged both states to honour their co-financing obligations and to provide the necessary structures and resources to sustain the gains achieved through the MoU. She noted the significant progress made so far, stressing the importance of continued commitment.
She stated, “I am delighted to be with you today to participate in this occasion of the media dialogue on the implementation of the Primary Health Care Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).”
Dr. Rafique reminded the audience of the partnership initiated in 2022: “You could recall that in the year 2022, UNICEF and GAVI, with the support of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), signed an MoU arrangement for Health Systems Strengthening with eight states of the federation, including Gombe and Taraba States.
“One of the major targets of the MoU is the achievement of 85 per cent fully immunised children by 2024, as well as improved primary health care programming in terms of governance, accountability, and service delivery.”
According to Dr Nuzhat Rafique, the success of the PHC MoU model relies on collaborative efforts, strategic planning, and political commitment in achieving sustainable healthcare outcomes.
She emphasised, “We appreciate the various achievements recorded during the 3-year implementation of the MoU in the two states, such as good leadership and coordination through a functional State Taskforce, an increase in the number of routine immunisation outreach sessions, leading to reaching more eligible children, and a reduction in Zero Dose Load, which has been reduced to 4% from 24% in Taraba State.”
Other notable achievements include:
- Improved vaccine availability at the last mile, significantly reducing vaccine stockouts at service points.
- Increased availability of skilled birth attendants, particularly at Apex Primary Health Care Facilities, following the recruitment of 440 health workers in Gombe State.
- Renovation of health facilities and the installation of solar equipment at local government cold stores.
- SBA (Skilled Birth Attendant) coverage improvement, such as the rise from 11% to 24% in Taraba State.
- Provision of vehicles (Hilux trucks and motorcycles) used for vaccine distribution and supportive supervision.
- Support for enrolling 10,000 beneficiaries into the health insurance scheme in Gombe State.
Dr. Rafique pointed out, “We are presently in the last year of the MoU; therefore, a lot needs to be done to ensure the timely conduct of all activities as captured in the Year 3 work plan so that the overall objectives of the MoU arrangement will be achieved.”
She expressed gratitude to stakeholders, especially the Gombe and Taraba State Governments, for providing an enabling environment for the implementation of the MoU mandates. She also thanked GAVI for their continued support in improving the well-being of children in the field office states and across Nigeria. “This continued support, as we can see from the achievements of this MoU, is critical to ensuring that every child survives and thrives,” she said.
Dr. Rafique assured, “UNICEF will continue to provide the required support to governments at all levels for the improvement of health and living standards, especially for children and women in communities.”
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