Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has commended United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for initiating the Fathers for Good Health (FGH) system with the aim of improving Healthcare service delivery.
The Governor particularly expressed appreciation to the Bauchi Field Office of UNICEF for the various interventions that have improved the well-being of women and children in the health and education sectors.
He spoke at the Award and Recognition ceremony for the Fathers for Good Health Groups in Bauchi state held on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House.
Bala Mohammed described the introduction of FGH initiative into the health sector particularly the primary healthcare system as the best thing to have happened to effective and efficient healthcare service delivery in the state.
He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the volunteers who are moving from community to community to sensitise people on the need to embrace good health for women and children.
The Governor said, “It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this very important occasion of the Award for “Fathers of Good Health.
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”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 unimmunized.”
He added,”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.
“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.
“To demonstrate its unwavering commitment to effective and efficient health care delivery, the State Government has continued to sustain a 15 percent allocation to the health sector.
He added, “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 its effort to provide adequate quality personnel in the health sector, the State Government has reintroduced pre-service scheme and recruited healthcare workers across all levels of health care services.
“The Government through the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Board has instituted an annual recognition award for best performing health care workers, health facilities, Local Government Areas and traditional institutions as part of its motivation strategies towards improving health care services in the State.”
“On behalf of the Government and Good People of Bauchi State, I wish to express our profound appreciation to all development partners, especially UNICEF for the various supports in the health sector particularly in the areas of Reproductive Maternal and Child Health.
“I wish to also extend my special appreciation to UNICEF for the establishment of an Oxygen Plan and Baby Care Unit at Azare. The State Government is eagerly waiting for the handing over and commissioning of the two facilities.
“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 stated.
He stressed that, “The awards are meant to motivate the good performing “Fathers of Good Health” and other Stakeholders, and to encourage others to follow suit. The State Government is profoundly grateful to these volunteer fathers for their commitment to supporting our healthcare system and enhancing health outcomes.”
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
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