GAVI, UNICEF targets healthcare improvements in Taraba, Gombe

Primary healthcare centers (PHCs) across Taraba and Gombe states have been set on the path for transformative improvements after the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Eight states, including Gombe and Taraba, entered into a partnership with UNICEF and GAVI in 2022 to strengthen healthcare systems with a focus on expanding immunization and primary healthcare services.

The collaboration has led to notable improvements in healthcare accessibility and quality in underserved communities, particularly in rural areas where services have historically been limited.

The MoU’s impact can be seen in various ways, including increased vaccine availability, upgraded cold chain equipment, and improved technical support in healthcare facilities.

GAVI and UNICEF were confirmed to have invested in training healthcare workers to better administer vaccines and manage healthcare operations.

Speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Tukura Nuhu, said the collaboration has also encouraged community engagement, with local leaders advocating for immunization.

“This engagement has raised awareness among parents about the benefits of vaccination, contributing to increased vaccine uptake,” he stated.

Also on his part, the Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Abdulraman Shuaibu, described the GAVI-UNICEF MoU as a “transformative step” toward strengthening primary healthcare in Gombe, emphasizing that “partnerships like this can drive positive health outcomes.”

One key initiative resulting from the MoU is the Mama2Mama programme that empowers women in both states to advocate for maternal and child health.

The programme, according to the two executive secretaries, has proven instrumental in improving health outcomes for mothers and children by fostering local ownership and awareness.

The MoU, which has also led to tangible changes in healthcare infrastructure, has made the Gombe state government engage an additional 440 health workers, combined with facility renovations and solar-powered equipment at cold storage facilities.

Speaking, the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, noted that since the MoU was implemented, Taraba has reduced its percentage of children with zero vaccine doses from 24% to 4%, and improved skilled birth attendant coverage from 11% to 24%, adding that, “Gombe has similarly advanced healthcare access, enrolling 10,000 beneficiaries into its health insurance scheme.”