By Usman Walin Gungura, Bauchi
Governor Bala Muhammad of Bauchi State, has commended UNICEF for its untiring Support to the Government and People of Bauchi State for improving healthcare service delivery.
He also appreciated UNICEF for initiating the Fathers for Health ( F4H) Groups aimed at championing the uptake in immunization campaign across the state.
The Governor made the expression at the Fathers for Good Health Awards Ceremony held at the Government House Banquet Hall in Bauchi recently.
He informed that Bauchi state has benefited immensely in its partnership with UNICEF, in areas of Health, Education, WASH and pledged to sustained the mutual partnership with UNICEF and other partners in enhancing service delivery in the critical sectors of the state.
Governor Bala Mohammed who spoke at the occasion through his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Awwal Jatau, described the community-driven initiative as an essential bridge between health facilities and rural communities.
“Your dogged efforts in promoting positive health behavior, supporting immunization campaigns and encouraging maternal and child healthcare utilization are visible and cherished by all,” Governor Mohammed said.
He explained that the initiative has significantly increased male involvement in public health decisions, ensuring that no mother or child is left behind.
While unfolding his administration’s financial commitment to the health sector, Governor Muhammad said the state government released over ₦872 million last year as counterpart funding into the Primary Healthcare Memorandum of Understanding (PHC-MOU) Basket Fund account.
The funding, according to him, supports routine immunization, nutrition programs and maternal healthcare, adding that through a partnership with UNICEF under the Child Nutrition Fund, the state has procured over ₦600 million worth of nutrition commodities.
“This include 4,562 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and 15,419 cartons of Small-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS) to combat childhood malnutrition,” he noted.
The Governor further said that the F4H initiative, which started in 2024, has expanded from two to 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs) due to its remarkable impact.
He also expressed gratitude to development partners, including UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Bill & Melinda Gates and Aliko Dangote Foundation, for their continuous support.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sani Muhammad Dambam, stated that greater male involvement in healthcare decisions would rapidly improve maternal and child health indicators.
He urged the advocates to remain dedicated to driving positive behavioral change.
The UNICEF Team Lead in Abuja, Dr. Asnakew Tsega, lauded Bauchi State for pioneering the initiative, which was originally designed to tackle cultural barriers holding women and children back from accessing medical services and called on the state government to expand the program to all 20 LGAs in the State.
Corroborating this, the Executive Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Muhammad, disclosed that the F4H initiative has successfully reduced the number of “zero-dose” children who have never received vaccines.
He noted that members have been instrumental in educating mothers and mobilizing communities for antenatal care and routine immunization
In his remarks, Co-Chair, Bauchi State Taskforce on Primary Healthcare and Emir of Dass, Usman Bilyaminu Othman, commended the state government for prioritizing improved primary healthcare delivery service.
He also commended UNICEF for the initiative which has assisted in improving access to healthcare service delivery especially in the area of immunization of Under-5 children.
The Emir also said that the activities of the Fathers for Good Health (F4H) has improved access to antenatal by pregnant women across the state thereby reducing maternal mortality and infant morbidity rate in the state.
The annual awards recognized the outstanding contributions of local government areas and community volunteers in promoting immunization, maternal healthcare and primary healthcare development across Bauchi State.
Ganjuwa LGA emerged the overall best in the implementation of the F4H initiative, Bauchi LGA came second while Darazo LGA was third.
The Fathers for Good Health (F4H) initiatives was introduced by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), to resolve zero dose issues in the state, implemented by the state government through the Primary Healthcare Department Agency.
