Bauchi: UNICEF, GAC Handover 45 Motorcycles to Boost Maternal, Child, Adolescent Health

From Paul Orude, Bauchi

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has handed over 45 units of motorcycles to the Bauchi State Government to strengthen maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services in hard-to-reach communities.

Speaking during the handover of the motorcycles to the Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam, on Monday in Bauchi, Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr Nuzhat Rafique, said the motorcycles were provided with support from Global Affairs Canada.

Rafique said the motorcycles would be used to deliver maternal, newborn and adolescent reproductive health services in hard-to-reach areas of the state and boost immunisation in underserved communities.

She explained that the motorcycles would be distributed across the 20 local government areas in the state, averaging two per LGA, to reach the most deprived areas where children, mothers and adolescents cannot access health facilities.

“The most vulnerable are those in remote areas facing financial and access barriers. If it is not possible for them to reach us, then we must reach them. The motorcycles are being donated to all the 20 LGAs to reach children, mothers, and newborns,” she stated.

“Immunisation is the entry point. There are thousands of zero-dose children who have never received any vaccine in Bauchi, and many mothers who have never received antenatal care, especially adolescent young mothers, which is common in Bauchi.

“Girls are married at a very early age, which is not good for their health and social development. Maternal and newborn mortality in the state is among the highest in Nigeria, especially in the North-East,” she added.

Receiving the motorcycles, Dr Sani Mohammed Dambam said the gesture was made possible through the initiative of UNICEF using donor funds from Global Affairs Canada.

“It is gratifying, on behalf of the Bauchi State Government, to receive these important, high-quality motorcycles for the benefit of the good people of Bauchi State, particularly for use in hard-to-reach areas for the delivery of health services to mothers, newborns and adolescents,” he stated.

Dambam expressed gratitude for the numerous support from UNICEF, Global Affairs Canada and other development partners toward improving the health and well-being of the people of the state.

“These gestures are in line with the vision of His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed, to improve the health and well-being of the people.

“The health sector has received top priority, and he has declared a state of emergency in the sector.

“We are grateful to the governor that areas once considered unreachable are now reachable. That means every nook and cranny of the state will now be reached with this support to provide the desired health services, particularly for pregnant women, newborns and children,” he said.