Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has reststed the commitment of Gombe state Government towards sustaining its partnering with United Nations Children’s Education Fund, UNICEF in all areas of interest towards achieving universal health coverage.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya who made this known during a bilateral meeting with the Country representative of UNICEF, Mr. Peter Hawkins at the Government House, said his administratiin is equally desirous of establishing a strong bilateral relationship with the Chinese Government to boost other areas like agriculture, mining and renewable energy among others.

He expressed appreciation to UNICEF and Chinese governnent for the partnership and support that helped in the upgrade of 10 Primary Healthcare Centres in Kwami LGAs of the State.

The governor said the support offered by the intervention complimented his administration’s vision of having one functional PHC in each of the 114 wards of the State.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya noted that so far his administration has done well in the health sector but that given the size of the state, there is the need to expand the programme to other Local Government areas, saying if extended, it will enable the State government to achieve universal health coverage.

“During my visit to the UN in 2019, I had solicited for partnership and support of the UNICEF in some key areas, including human resources for health, severe acute malnutrition through the scaling up of interventions and building local capacity to produce RUTF”.

He explained that Gombe is currently producing complimentary food through partnership with IAR.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya observed that being at the Center of the North East, the State has continued to play host to a large number of displaced persons with a consequential effect on social service delivery.

Earlier speaking, the UNICEF country representative, Peter Hawkins described the partnership between Gombe State Government and UNICEF as critical to the enthronment of a sustainable development in the State.

“From what I saw in terms of partnership between the government and people at the grassroots, you have created an environment where a compact of trust has really started delivering quality services which is the important thing because people will continue to return to health facilities to access services”.

He said the renovation of health facilities by the Gombe State Government in collaboration with UNICEF and the Republic of China re-emphasizes the desirability sustainable partnership going forward.

Mr. Hawkins commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his resilience and determination in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people, appealing for the sustaining of the tripartite partnership to build on the gains so far recorded.

The visiting UNICEF chief congratulated Governor Inuwa Yahaya for coming up with a ten year development plan, describing it as a model for States across the country and a nobility in a region that is in dire need of investment and deliverables for the people.