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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.
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