By Achadu Gabriel, kaduna
Kaduna state government in collaboration with EngenderHealth has officially lunched Gates Foundation project entitled: “Advocacy Solutions to Improve PHC Service Delivery and Health Outcomes in kaduna state”.
The Commissioner, State Ministry of health, Dr. Umar Ahmed who performed the ceremony Wednesday said the lunching is important to the state ministry of health and would support in helping to implement the state policies and changing the narrative in health care sector.
She stated that the collaboration will assist the state in implementing it’s policies because they’ve come up with innovative advocacy approach that will go a long way in getting appropriate and adequate funding for projects and programs.
The commissioner however expressed uptimism that Governor Uba Sani of kaduna state is passionate about the healthcare sector and only needed the ministry’s support to do the needful that would not required much stressed.
According to her, accountability is key and would be prioritized, highlighting that doing so would enable government and funding partners to do more.
Earlier, the Gates Foundation Country project Manager, EngenderHealth, Nigeria, Dr. Kabiru Attah presented an overview of Gates Foundation Project titled: “Advocacy Solutions to Improve PHC Service Delivery and Health Outcomes in kaduna state”.
The organizers also highlighted the meeting objectives, amongst other things, including to introduce the project to kaduna state stakeholders, identify key policies, advocacy and accountability priorities and gaps, co-create activities for project implemention in the state.
Mr. Attah, the Country project manager, Nigeria, in an interview, told newsmen that they were specifically in kaduna Wednesday for project lunching.
“Kaduna state has lunched 8 policies in last one way and needed support from expertise like our foundation in areas that required support.
“Kaduna state is to benefit alots from this project. kaduna has lunched 8 policies requiring implementation. For them to be implemented, definitely there’ll be challenges.
“So this project is going to support the state ministry of health and others stakeholders, identify who their staff are, and see how we can use our expertise, funded by this foundation, to be able to solve those problems and ensure that the state implement those policies.
“Many other benefits including funding challenges. They’re already funding kaduna state operational plan. We are to work with health ministry and ensure implemention of more solution that’ll bring solution, allow more funding to the state and health sector e.g the State Contributory Health care management agency, the informal sector, that we see the percentage of enrollment is quite low in the state, amongst others”, he stated.
Goodwill Messages were presented by Co-chair, Kaduna Maternal Accountability Mechanism (KADMAM), Isah Gidado, representatives of CSOs, partners and stakeholders and personalities as well as permanent secretary health ministry and director were presented during the opening ceremony at Butterfly hotel.
