Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
International healthcare organisations, GAVI & UNICEF, on Thursday, handed over modern medical equipment and other commodities to the Bayelsa State Government.
The equipment was for the state to have a better service and strengthen the primary health care delivery system in the state.
The gesture which was described as one landmark achievement in the provision of primary health care delivery is to help the primary health care centers across the state.
Medical equipment and commodities donated by GAVI & UNICEF, include Labour/Delivery bed-100, Table, 2 tray on castors – 20, Multiple Micronutrient supplement-20, Neonatal Stethoscope (child)-150, Manual Centrifuge-10, and Table, Baby Dressing-20.
Others items are, Table, examination-20, Trolley, dressing-20, MUAC tape- 150, Height Scale/Weighing scale- 150, and Vaccine Carriers- 370, respectively.
While, appreciating the International partners, GAVI & UNICEF, for their donation in strengthening the effective health care delivery system in the state, Executive Secretary, Bayelsa State primary health care board, Dr. Williams Appah, expressed excitement over the supply of the modern medical equipment to the state government.
He noted that, this kind gesture can only be achieved through partnership, adding that, we are making progress in that regard and was happy to received the equipments and other commodities.
He recalled that, after the visit with GAVI, Unicef to the renovated health care centers across the state, some of the items supplied were part of the request they’ve gone to fulfilled.
According to the Executive Secretary, the Programme would be winding up in June 2025, but noted that, the Programme has succeeded, and therefore, the International Partners should not allow it to go down.
Dr. Appah, also appreciated the prosperity government led by Senator Douye Diri , for his commitment and putting the needs of the primary health care in front.
Speaking on behalf of GAVI & UNICEF representative in Nigeria, UNICEF Zonal office, Port-Harcourt, Dr. Anslem Audu said, the epoch making ceremony of handover of modern medical equipments and other commodities to the state government is to improve the indices of primary health care in the state.
He noted that, the supply of the health care equipments and other commodities shows and tell the importance of primary health care cannot be overemphasized.
Dr. Audu, also charged staff and the caregivers to effectively discharge their duties and properly handled the equipments for the benefit of the child and mother.
He warned that, beyond the handover ceremony and working towards the reality and vision of the Programme, no child in the state is to be left behind to benefit.
In his earlier remark, Commissioner for Health, Bayelsa State Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, while receiving the items, commended the International Partners GAVI / UNICEF, for the kind gesture, stressing that, the indices of parents and child care are encouraging.
According to him, the equipments and other commodities would go a long way to sustain life expectancy and quality of life in the state.
He said, therefore, “on behalf of the state government, I received all the items you’ve donated to the state.
This goes to show that the partnership is working and we need to celebrate the model of the partnership”, he noted.
The Commissioner for Health, encouraged the paramount rulers and staff to protect and claim ownership of the medical items and put the equipment into maximum use and improve the health care of the people.
Dr. Brisibe, also urged traditional rulers in their various domains to show commitment and participate in the management of the equipment in their health care centers across the state.
He prayed God for the partnership and the cordial working relationship between GAVI, UNICEF and State government and urged them to be advocate for the partnership, adding that as a state, we have been playing our part respectively.
