Chief of Bauchi Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria, Dr Tushar Rane, has called for improved immunisation of children in Plateau.
Rane made the call during a courtesy visit to Gov. Simon Lalong at Government House, Jos, on Wednesday.
“Looking at the number of unimmunised children in the state, we are advocating for government provision of logistics for outreaches to deliver integrated health services to underserved populations, “ he said.
The UNICEF official noted that the state had high maternal mortality ratio of 278.5 deaths per 1,000 live births, while 44 children die per 1,000 live births, with 57 per cent live births unsupervised by quality medical personnel.
He called for adoption of one main PHC per ward in the state, saying that it would help in addressing maternal and child mortality.
Rane expressed UNICEF’s readiness to partner with the state in addressing the mortality rate, adding that it only sought more commitment from the state government.
“One PHC per ward will address maternal and child mortality. UNICEF is very happy to partner with Plateau government on this,” he said.
Rane said that UNICEF had other programmes, such as water sanitation to handle sanitation issues, child protection and education unit as well as a nutrition team in Bauchi supporting the teams in all the states in the zone.
He commended Plateau for being the first state in the north to domesticate the Child Rights Law, urging other states to emulate it.
Responding, Lalong thanked UNICEF for its support in Plateau, saying that his administration was committed to improving health care service delivery in the state and that it would not relent in its efforts.
“We have done a lot and we are not relenting in our efforts at improving the health of the girl-child, children and the vulnerable in the state,” he said.
The governor said that the state would intervene on areas observed by UNICEF, especially with its support, to ensure affordable and quality health care delivery in the state. (NAN)
