UNICEF, EU-SARAH donate multi-million naira medical equipment to Adamawa govt
By Mohammed Ismail
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the European Union-funded EU-SARAH Initiative, has donated medical equipment worth millions of naira to the Adamawa State Government to strengthen primary healthcare services and improve maternal and child health outcomes across the state.
The medical equipment was formally handed over on Monday at the headquarters of the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ADSPHCDA) in Yola.
Receiving the equipment on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Alhaji Chubado Muhammad Jada, described the intervention as timely and significant, expressing appreciation to UNICEF and the EU-SARAH Initiative for their sustained partnership in improving healthcare delivery in the state.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Pharm. Mathias Zira Bubanani, the commissioner said the equipment would be distributed to primary healthcare facilities across the 21 local government areas to enhance service delivery at the grassroots.
He noted that the intervention aligns with the state’s commitment to strengthening its healthcare system and expanding access to quality medical services, particularly for women and children.
According to him, the medical equipment will improve the quality of healthcare services at primary healthcare centres, reduce maternal and child mortality, and ensure that communities receive timely and effective medical attention.
He urged residents, especially pregnant women and nursing mothers, to take advantage of the improved services available at primary healthcare facilities across the state.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Sulaiman Saidu Bashir, commended UNICEF and the European Union for their continued support to the state’s health sector.
He described the intervention as critical to the agency’s mandate of delivering accessible and quality healthcare services to residents.
Bashir assured the development partners that the equipment would be deployed efficiently and maintained properly to achieve the objectives for which they were provided.
He also directed Primary Healthcare Coordinators in all local government areas to safeguard the equipment and ensure they are used effectively to improve healthcare delivery at their respective facilities.
In her remarks, the agency’s Director of Community Health Services, Hajiya Rashida Tahir, said the equipment, including Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) tools, would significantly enhance maternal and child healthcare services.
She disclosed that health workers had already undergone extensive training on the use of the equipment to ensure efficient service delivery.
Tahir stressed the importance of continuous monitoring and evaluation to guarantee proper utilisation, maintenance and security of the equipment.
She also encouraged expectant mothers to utilise the maternal healthcare packages and other services available at primary healthcare centres throughout the state.
Also speaking, UNICEF Health Specialist, Mr. Sayi Olusandi, said the intervention forms part of the organisation’s commitment to strengthening the quality of healthcare services and improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations.
He emphasised the need for proper maintenance and accountability to ensure the equipment delivers lasting benefits to communities.
Representatives of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Executive Secretaries of Local Government Health Authorities, Programme Managers, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and other stakeholders also commended the initiative and urged beneficiaries to ensure the judicious use of the equipment.
The ceremony concluded with the formal distribution of the medical equipment to representatives of local government primary healthcare authorities and other beneficiary health institutions for deployment to healthcare facilities across Adamawa State.
