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The ES State Primary Healthcare Management Board Dr. ML Gana (left) is
seated with H.E Gov. Buni and the Permanent Secretary Min of Health |
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has pledged his commitment to strengthening
primary healthcare and Routine Immunization (RI) in Yobe State.
In a live videoconference as part of the
mid-year review meeting with Co-Chair of the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr Bill Gates and the Chairman of Dangote
Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote on strengthening Routine Immunization in Yobe
State, Gov. Buni gave his administration’s commitment to keep yobe State free
from the polio virus.
The meeting took place at the Polio Emergency Operations Centre in Abuja, Nigeria
while Mr. Bill Gate and Alhaji Aliko Dangote
joined
the conversion from Seattle, USA,
the Headqauters of Bill Malinda & Gate Foundation.
The review meeting , which usually holds twice in a year is
part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
signed by the Yobe State Government and the Bill and Melinda Gates and Dangote
Foundations in the last few years. The MoU is due to enter its second phase of
additional five years.
According to Gov. Mai Mala Buni while underlining the importance of the
synergy said;
"It is testament to the commitment of the
three parties to the MoU and all the stakeholders involved that primary
healthcare and routine immunization activities have been widened throughout the
state. We are now reaching more eligible new-borns, children and women with
vaccines and other lifesaving commodities. In the process, we continue to make
progress in reducing maternal and child mortality and morbidity in the state".
Governor Buni assured Mr Gates and Alhaji Aliko Dangote that that the Yobe
State Government will do everything necessary to improve access to quality
healthcare and "sustain and build on the progress made so far".
"The Yobe State Government will continue to support all Polio
Eradication initiatives. In this year, and in the years to come, we will do everything
possible to improve access to vaccination and ensure that all under-served and
hard-to-reach communities are not left out", he added.
Governor Buni also revealed that as part of effort to strengthen primary
healthcare, more primary health centres will be built throughout the state to
cater to the healthcare needs of people in rural areas.
"As part of our determination to institute a functional primary
healthcare system, we plan to establish at least one Primary Healthcare
Facility in each of the 178 wards in the state and assign the personnel
required to manage them. We are committed to enhancing service delivery and
achieving greater success in wiping out all vaccine-preventable diseases among
our people", he said.
The governor appreciated the support of traditional rulers and community
leaders in mobilizing their people to ensure that children are immunized and
urged them to sustain the effort. "Traditional, community and religious
leaders and the chairmen of local government councils have been very helpful in
the successes recorded so far. I appreciate their effort and urge them to pitch
in and do more. The goal of a working, thriving primary healthcare system in
our state is within our reach when we continue to work together", he assured.
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Gov. Buni with UNICEF Rep Dr. Sanjana Bhardwaj(standing) PS Yobe Min of Health. |
Governor Buni also revealed that to make the state eligible to access the
Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, his administration will fast-track the
establishment of the Contributory Health Management Agency and a Drugs and
Consumables Management Agency.
In their remarks, the two billionaires commended the Yobe State Government
for the progress made so far in immunization campaigns across the state.
Mr Gates noted the “good progress” that the state has made in routine
immunization and improvement in the “quality of vaccination campaign”.
He, however, urgedGov. Buni to ensure timely release of counterpart funds to
cover more ground in routine immunization.
Alhaji Dangote praised the progress of Yobe in "healthcare, including
immunization”.
He said that the government's 50 percent funds release threshold for the
healthcare sector is commendable but noted that the 10 percent threshold in
primary healthcare must be increased to ensure a better primary healthcare
environment in the state.
The
Emir of Fika and Chairman,
Yobe
State Council of Chiefs His Royal
Highness, Alhaji Muhammadu Abali Ibn Muhammadu Idrissa, who also present at the
meeting, assured that traditional rulers will continue to pitch in and incentivize
their communities to participate more fully and actively in routine immunization.