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The United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF and GAVI, the global vaccine alliance, have officially handed over a multi-million-dollar primary healthcare (PHC) project to the Katsina State Government, marking a significant milestone in healthcare development.
The project, valued at $8,539,995, was jointly funded by UNICEF, GAVI, and the Katsina State Government. Designed to enhance maternal and child health, the initiative has strengthened primary healthcare systems and improved routine immunization services across the state.
During the handover ceremony at the Government House, Katsina, Governor Malam Dikko Umar Radda reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining the project’s impact.
“The partnership has boosted our immunization programs, enhanced healthcare worker capacity, and ensured that even the most remote communities receive essential medical services,” Radda stated.
He emphasized that the initiative had significantly improved the functionality of PHC centers, making quality healthcare more accessible to citizens.
Head of UNICEF Field Office Kano, Mr. Rahama Mohammed Farah, highlighted the program’s remarkable achievements, including reducing the under-five mortality rate from 188 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 105 in 2024. Vaccination coverage for Penta3 also rose from 33.7% in 2018 to 53.3% in 2023, despite ongoing security challenges.
“This intervention has strengthened health systems, improved service delivery, and bolstered governance across the state,” Farah noted, calling on the Katsina State Government to sustain the gains made.
While formally transferring the program’s implementation to the state, he reaffirmed UNICEF’s ongoing support in ensuring every child receives life-saving immunization and healthcare services.
With the program now under state leadership, stakeholders are optimistic that Katsina will build on these successes, further advancing healthcare access and outcomes for women and children.
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