FROM RAHILA ABDULLAHI, KADUNA
United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, has secured C$15 million grant for Kaduna, Kebbi and Bauchi States.
Speaking at a two-day capacity building workshop in Kaduna Tuesday, health specialist at the UNICEF office in Abuja, Dr Chelsea Fatima said the grant would run through five years.
“This is a funding initiative targeted at improving the capacity of government institutions, both at the state and local government levels, as well as community systems, to deliver on sexual and reproductive health and rights.
“It targets adolescent populations, women of childbearing age and children under five in Kaduna, Kebbi and Bauchi States.
“This grant is from Global Affairs Canada and given to UNICEF to support these three states. It is a five-year grant worth 15 million Canadian dollars.
“The goal is to improve health outcomes for adolescent girls, particularly around sexual and reproductive health, ensuring that they live to their maximum potential as adolescents, and that their sexual and reproductive health rights are addressed within facilities and the communities they live in.
“We hope that this support will help the Kaduna State government, alongside the other two states, to build more capacity within their government institutions at the state and local government levels.
“As a country, Nigeria is now taking a sector-wide approach in the health sector, focusing on improving maternal, newborn and child health outcomes. This support will contribute to implementing that direction,” she said.
Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr Aisha Sadiq said the grant could not have come at a better time.
