LG Chairman lauds UNICEF on campaign against cervical cancer in Bauchi

Mr Danlami Durumi, Caretaker Chairman of Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi, has commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for its campaign against cervical cancer in the area.

Durumi, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Toro on Friday, saying that the campaign was life saving.

The LG Chair revealed that the campaign came along with the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to girls aged nine to 14.

According to him, “Without UNICEF taking the lead of other development partners, the campaign would have been difficult, considering the economic situation of the country.”

He particularly commended UNICEF for training community volunteers, such as Mama2mama, Volunteer Community Mobilisers (VCM) and Behavioural Community Mobilisers (BCM).

He noted that the groups have been going round from house to house to enlighten and mobilise people for the vaccination.

“The importance of these groups cannot be overemphasised to the success of the campaign, because they are the frontline workers whose contribution is immense.

“I want to appeal for an upward review of their allowances because the present economic situation in the country, demands that they get a little higher than what they are getting now.

“There are villages in the LGA that can only be accessed by motorcycles which they must pay for, from the meagre amount they are getting.” He said.

The Chairman further expressed optimism, that the target of girls to be vaccinated in the LGA would be met.

Durumi, added that the effectiveness of mobilisation made by the volunteers, raised the level of response and there was mass compliance.

[8:32 AM, 10/27/2023] Said NAN: NEDC warns contractors against compromising contract specifications

The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) has warned contractors handling various projects across the region against compromising contract specifications.

The Chairman, NEDC Governing Board, Maj:- Gen Paul Tarfa rtd, sounded the warning when he led the newly reconstituted members of the commission on a project inspections tour in Bauchi state on Friday.

Some of the projects inspected include the ongoing construction of the Medical Emergency Unit, Ophthalmology complex at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital.

Others included the proposed Bauchi State Office of the Commission as well as the ongoing construction of NEDC Mega School where the commission expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done.

However, the Chairman, expressed displeasure over what he observed as substandard work being done by the contractor handling the proposed NEDC 300 Housing Units at Dungal community in Bauchi Local Government Area.