Gov Bala Commends UNICEF for establishing Oxygen Plant, Baby Care Unit In Azare

By: Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi 

The governor of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir on Tuesday commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for establishing an oxygen plant and baby care unit in the General Hospital Azare, Katagum local government area of the State.

He made this known while addressing stakeholders in the state, on the occasion of the award ceremony for “Father’s of good health” held at the state banquet hall.

He said that the State Government is eagerly waiting for the handing over and commissioning of the two facilities. 

According to the governor “​It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this very important occasion of the Award for “Fathers of Good Health”. 

“As the name suggests the occasion is specially organized to honour, men who have made significant contributions to the improvement of Child Health in the State by mobilizing their communities to ensure that no child is left immunized”

“I would like to congratulate today’s recipients of the awards and to re-emphasize that the reward for hard work is more work” 

He further said that the awards are meant to motivate the good performing “Fathers of Good Health” and other Stakeholders, and to encourage others to follow suit.  

“It would be recalled that “Fathers of Good Health” Support initiative began as a pilot project in Misau and Ningi Local Government Areas with 340 volunteers in all the wards. The initiative has now been expanded to four (4) Local Government Areas, with a plan to further expand it to all Local Governments of the State” 

“It is our belief that this intervention will go along way in improving vaccine acceptance and encourage household decision-makers to actively engage in mobilizing other men in their communities to ensure that all children receive vaccinations in our communities”

“The Bauchi State Government is ever ready to support any intervention aimed at strengthening our health system, especially for the improvement of the lives and well-being of women and children. 

“Indeed, our administration has placed high premium on the health sector by investing in infrastructure and equipment, apart from being committed to meeting the obligations of MoU arrangements with development and donor partners, in spite of the dwindling resource and multi-sectoral demands in governance”

“The State Government has continued to sustain a 15 percent allocation to the health sector. In order to provide maximum health services and ensure effective productive system in our health facilities, the Bauchi State Government has recently introduced the State Emergency Transport System and Ambulance services to facilitate easy transportation of patients in both urban and hard to reach communities in the State”

In her part, the Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Nuzhat Rafique, commended governor Bala Mohammed for his dedication to healthcare development. 

Rafique emphasized that the initiative is a brainchild of UNICEF, designed to encourage and facilitate effective immunization coverage.