Bauchi deputy governor and chairman state task force committee on primary healthcare, Senator Baba Tela, weekend, disclosed that the state has won the sum of 400,000 US dollars for the 2022 primary healthcare challenge award.
He announced this during the 2023 first quarter task force meeting and award ceremony and stated that the sum of 400 thousand US dollars awarded to the state by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum in collaboration with PHC MoU partners was as a result of the state’s performance in primary healthcare delivery in line with the Seattle Declaration.
Senator Tela said the development followed the emergence of the state as “Runner up from the Northeastern sub region and one of the six best states in Nigeria” in the area of quality primary healthcare services during the 2022 primary healthcare leadership challenge award.
“Among the major indicators which attracted our high score for the award is the regular conduct of the state task force on primary healthcare quarterly meetings, prompt payment of the MoU counterpart funds and other obligations for quality primary healthcare services.
“This success is a collective effort of Bauchi state government, members of the state task force, traditional institution as well as development partners working in the state. I want to congratulate all the stakeholders involved and to call on people of the state to continue to support the present administration’s policy on health.”
On his part, the State Director of USAID funded Integrated Health Program (USAID IHP), Dr. Alhassan Siaka congratulated the state for winning the $400,000 and hoped that the entire sum would be channeled into the State Basket Fund for improved primary health in the state.
On the implementation of the action points from the 2022 PHC retreat meeting, the executive chairman, State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Rilwanu Muhammad stated that the state has recorded successes especially in the areas of manpower, facilities, healthcare financing as well community leaders inclusion.