From: Segun Babatunde in Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has pledged the commitment of his administration to upscaling and sustaining the landmark “Reaching and Empowering Adolescents to Make Informed Choices for their Health (Reach) Project” sponsored by the Global Alliance Canada and save the children International.
The governor, represented by the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, disclosed this at the three-and-a-half years project held in Abuja Wednesday.
The pilot project targeted the three states of Gombe, Zamfara and Katsina where two local government areas each were piloted.
The governor said the project imparted positively on the adolescent, the elderly, community workers and health workers in Gombe State.
He said the confidence of the adolescent had been built and there was a remarkable reduction in the number of out-of-school children as well as greater awareness on sexual and reproductive health.
Governor Yahaya pledged that the budgetary allocation of the line Ministries of Health, Education and Women Affairs would be increased in order to develop appropriate strategies for sustainability.
The state government is looking forward to continued partinarship with Global Affairs Canada and the Save the Children International as new ones are envisaged.
The representative of Zamfara and Katsina States also expressed their profound gratitude to Global Alliances Canada and the Save the Children International for considering their states as worthy beneficiaries.
In his remarks, the Minister of Health, represented by Hajiya Salma Ibrahim Ana, a director in the ministry, commended the two organizations for targeting the states with the highest burden.
He expressed delight with the empowerment of the adolescent girl that granted her the ability to negotiate and delay the age of marriage as revolutionary.
He also was grateful that the capacity development of health workers was given priority.
In their various goodwill messages, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Faruk umar Faruk; the Emir of Dukku, Haruna Abdulkadir El’Rashid Il; Bala Waja, Alhaji Danjuma Mohamed; the Emir of kaura Namoda, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad Ahmed Asha and the Emir of Talata Mafara, Alhaji Dr Mohamed Bello Barmo, pledged to continue to key into such a noble project.
They pledged to uphold the internationally, recognized right of children, expressing belief that health is wealth and tha the wellbeing and health of the citizens would continue to be given top priority.
The traditional rulers proclaimed their commitment to continuing to be gatekeepers and worthy partiners for the development.