EU urges Kebbi Govt. to increase health, education funding

EU urges Kebbi Govt. to increase health, education funding
By Tatu Shuaibu
Budget
Birnin Kebbi, July 24, 2018 (NAN) The EU has urged the Kebbi State Government to increase budget allocation to the health and education sectors to improve women and child health as well as reduce maternal mortality.
The Head of EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Kurt Cornelius, made this appeal on Tuesday at an interactive session with the state government on health sectors in Birnin Kebbi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the session was aimed at assessing the performance of the government intervention in the health and education sectors in the state.
Kurt was on the assessment tour alongside other donor agencies such as WHO, UNICEF and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
“I commend the effort of the Kebbi State Government for utilising the intervention money given to them by the EU and urge them to do more by improving on their commitment towards achieving the goals,” he said.
The representative of WHO, Dr Andrew Mbewe, said the team was in the state to assess the implementation of the funds released to them.
He also explained that WHO has being assisting the state in the areas of malaria, nutrition, polio and other related health cases, adding that this has produced positive results.
The Chief of Health of UNICEF, Dr Sanjana Bhardwaj, also commended the state government for proper use of funds given to them on health sectors.
He added that UNICEF would continue to partner with the state as they have achieved a lot in the healthcare system.
The representative of NPHCDA, Dr Nneka Onwu, also assured the state government of the Federal Government and EU support on health and other institutions in the state.
“The only challenge I saw was the lack of staff which is one of the key factors on health service delivery,” she said.
Responding, Gov. Abubakar Bagudu, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Umar Kambaza, lauded the EU and other donor agencies for their support.
He assured them of more commitments on the health and education sectors in the state. (NAN)
SZT/IS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola