Bauchi healthcare sector to benefit from World Bank PHC intervention.
By Mubarak Aliyu kobi
Over four billion naira is to be disbursed to 316 Health facilities in Bauchi State under the World Bank assisted Immunization Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project.
The National Project Manager, Dr. Amina Abdu-one Mohammed made this known at Government House Bauchi when she led the Project Managerial Oversight team on a courtesy visit to the state Governor Bala Mohammed.
The team has representation from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the Federal Ministries of Finance, Health and Social Welfare as well as the World Bank.
Dr. Amina Mohammed said $20,000 of the fund would be given to each of the 316 to-benefit health facilities, nothing that so far Bauchi was the best among other IMPACT project implementing states.
She commended the State Project Implementation Unit (PIU) for exhibiting prudent management of funds so far released to it, where each of the already benefiting 323 health care facilities received $10,000.
Speaking, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State said his government was ready for continued partnership with the Federal Government and the World Bank in anything that has the potential of changing lives of his people.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Kashim, the Governor emphasized his commitment to ensure service delivery to people of the state as it was the essence of governance.
The team had earlier met with the officials of the state ministry of health, Primary Health Care Development Agency members of the state IMPACT PIU.
In the meeting, World Bank representative, Mrs Lulu Pwanedo said the achievements so far recorded in the state was not unconnected to its successful implementation of the Nigeria States Health Investment Project (NSHIP) which is similar to IMPACT project.
The Executive Chairman of the State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed appreciated the Project Managerial Oversight team for rating Bauchi the best among other implementing states.
He however called on the World Bank to grant approval to the 323 health facilities under the project to use the $3,230,000 environmental impact assessment funds disbursed to them about one year ago.
The Project Manager of IMPACT, Dr. Adamu Muhammad assured that the PIU would not relent in its effort to deliver in tandem with the project’s guidelines specifications.
