The Gombe state government has engaged 440 health personnel to enhance access to quality maternal and child health services.

The workers were trained and deployed to primary health facilities in 114 wards under a healthcare intervention programme funded by GAVI and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the last three years.

Nuzhat Rafique, chief of UNICEF field office, Bauchi, said this during the close-out of the programme on Friday in Gombe.

She said the measure was to ensure athe vailability of at least two skilled health workers to support maternal and newborn services at the grassroots.

Ms Rafique said the intervention significantly improved maternal and child health outcomes and strengthened PHC systems and routine immunisation services in the state.

She said the partnership also provided 11 cold stores, renovated five PHC centres, distributed two vehicles, 40 motorcycles, and 140 cold chain equipment to ensure improved access to potent vaccines.

The UNICEF official said that 24,874 vulnerable women and children had been enrolled in the health insurance scheme in the four priority zero-dose local government areas.

“Percentage of pregnant women supported at birth by a skilled health worker increased from 21.1 to 37.9 per cent between 2018 and 2024, with an 80 per cent increase.

“Percentage of women with postnatal checks during the first two days after birth increased from 25.1 to 44.9 per cent between 2018 and 2024, representing a 79 per cent increase.

“Children vaccinated with pental -1 increased from 37.3 to 66.0 per cent between 2018 and 2024, with a 77 per cent increase.

“Children fully immunised, all basic vaccinations, increased from 18.2 to 49.2 per cent between 2018 and 2024, representing a 170 per cent increase,” she said.

Ms Rafique further said that the partnership supported the development of the 2025 Gombe State Health Sector Annual Operational Plan (AOP), to serve as the instrument for sustainability of the programme.

She, therefore, advocated proactive measures to ensure sustainability of the programme through the prompt release of counterpart funds to facilitate effective implementation.

Ms Rafique commended the state government, traditional leaders and other stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the programme.

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya lauded the GAVI/State-funded Primary Healthcare initiative in the state.

Represented by Ibrahim Njodi, the secretary to the state government, Mr Yahaya said the state had utilised the partnership to support healthcare service delivery, renovate facilities and train frontline health workers.

He said the programme recorded remarkable successes resulting in improving health outcomes for children and women in the state.

He stated that primary health facilities were either constructed or upgraded to enable them to provide 24-hour services in rural and urban communities.

The governor said the state had enrolled 154,394 beneficiaries in the health insurance scheme to enhance access to quality healthcare service delivery.

“I’m delighted to report significant progress in maternal and child health indicators, indicating immunisation, antenatal care and hospital delivery as revealed by the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey 2024.

“This achievement is a testament to the substantial investment made by all parties involved in the MoU.

“We are grateful for the support from our MoU partners including financial and technical assistance,” he said.

Mr Yahaya commended the development partners for the quick intervention and refurbishing of the Gombe Central medical store, which was razed by fire in 2024.

(NAN)