Kebbi: EU, UNICEF, WHO urge more govt. commitment to health, education

From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi

The Minister Counselior and the Head of Cooperation of European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Kurt Cornelis has called on the Kebbi State Government to increase the budget allocated to health and education sectors in order to build the future of the youths and reduce the maternal mortality in the state.
He stated this yesterday at the interactive session with the state government and the stakeholders on health sectors which was held at the Presidential Lodge Birnin Kebbi, aimed at assessing the performance of the government intervention in the state.
Mr. Kurt who was on assessment tour alongside other donor agencies such as WHO, UNICEF and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency Abuja while briefing journalists shortly after the meeting urged the state government to increase the health and education budget to meet-up with the challenges facing the two sectors.
“I commended the effort of the kebbi state government for utilizing the intervention money given to them by the EU.l urge them to do more by improving on the commitment towards achieving the same goals,” he added.
In his remark, the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the head of RMNCH cluster Dr. Andrew L. Mbewe, said they are in kebbi state to see how far the state has gone on the implementation of the funds released to them.
He also explained further that WHO has being on the assistance to Kebbi state government most especially on the areas of malaria, nutrition, polio and other related health cases which had shown a good positive results.
In a related development, the Chief of Health on UNICEF Dr. Sanjana Bhardwaj also commended the Kebbi state government for utilities the funds given to them on health sectors adding that they are ready to partner with Kebbi state as they have achieved a lot on the healthcare system.
Also in her speech, the representative of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and Director Department of Community Health Services Abuja Dr. Nneka U. Onwu also assured the state government of the federal and EU support on health and other institutions in the state.
He urged the state government to review the issue of man power, “the only challenges I saw was lack of staff which is the one of the key factors on health” she added.
Responding, the Kebbi State Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Health Alhaji Umar Kambaza thank the EU for their support. He assured them of more commitments on the health sector in the state.