Kwara state government has emerged UNICEF winner on immunisation coverage in the North Central zone with a cash prize of $500,000.
Speaking at the meeting of the taskforce on Immunisation and Primary Healthcare Agency in Ilorin at the weekend, the state deputy governor and chairman, State Task Force on Immunisation and Primary Healthcare Agency, Mr. Kayode Alabi, expressed determination of the state government at achieving highest peak of success on immunisation coverage in the country.
The deputy governor, who said that the award, won by the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, was given through the UNICEF mechanism method, added that the money was domiciled with the UNICEF to improve PHC in the state.
He said the feat recorded was with support of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, adding that the government is set to improve on past efforts in order to achieve greater heights.
Alabi also commended the governor for prompt release of counterpart funds for the forthcoming immunisation in the state, saying that the gesture showed his concern for health of people of Kwara state.
Also speaking, the executive secretary, Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Nusirat Elelu, said that Governor Abdulrazaq has created a work plan to develop the PHC system with the fund.
“One of them is the renovation of few of the PHC systems as well as capacity building which was commenced with 10 days bi-monthly training for basic emergency and newborn care, such that 60 midwives were trained in emergency care during antenatal, delivery, and postnatal periods.