Minna: The Niger government, in collaboration with the Global Alliance Initiative (GAVI) and UNICEF, has marked the successful conclusion of their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at strengthening the state’s primary healthcare system. Governor Umaru Bago of Niger revealed this during a visit from GAVI and UNICEF officials as part of the activities for the close-out of the GAVI-supported initiative in Minna.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Bago expressed his gratitude to the partners for their support in enhancing the state’s primary healthcare system, which includes promoting healthcare services and child birth registration. He mentioned that the partnership initially received seed funding of approximately N6 million dollars, with an additional N1 million dollars matched by the state government. The state is working towards developing a system that incorporates tele-medicine services across primary healthcare centers to assist from a distance, particularly in areas with limited manpower. Plans are also underway to deploy tele-medicine facilities across all centers, provide internet services, and build accommodations for medical personnel.
Bago disclosed plans to launch a drone vaccine delivery project within the next six months, aiming to reach remote areas by leveraging technology. Tele-medicine will enable doctors to diagnose patients remotely, allowing nurses at the centers to dispense medication accordingly.
Dr. Shyam Pathak, Chief of Health at UNICEF, acknowledged the governor’s achievements in recruiting 1,500 new health staff, retaining 400 health staff, and procuring medical equipment. This has improved access to quality health services for vulnerable populations. Pathak also commended the contributions of traditional and religious institutions in strengthening the primary healthcare system and advocated for increased investment and oversight to sustain the project.
Dr. Ibrahim Sesay, Chief of Child Protection at UNICEF, praised the Niger government for its commitment to birth registration, highlighting the significant progress made in registering children under five years. Sesay announced that UNICEF plans to integrate services to issue national identification numbers to registered children, facilitating tracking and identifying gaps in the system.
Dr. Alex Chimbaru, WHO representative, commended the governor’s commitment to the project’s success, noting a decrease in maternal and infant mortality rates. He emphasized the importance of sustainability in maintaining the progress achieved and urged the state government to continue monitoring its indicators.
Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, Commissioner for Primary Healthcare in Niger, reported that the programme has made substantial progress in reducing maternal and infant mortalities in the state.