Health care
Government Engages 440 Health Workers To Boost Maternal, Child Healthcare In Gombe
Government Engages 440 Health Workers To Boost Maternal, Child Healthcare In Gombe
Government engages 440 health workers to boost maternal, child healthcare in Gombe . The UNICEF official said that 24,874 vulnerable women and children had been enrolled in the health insurance scheme.
The Gombe state government has engaged 440 health personnel to enhance access to quality maternal and child health services.
The workers were trained and deployed to primary health facilities in 114 wards under a healthcare intervention programme funded by GAVI and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the last three years.
Nuzhat Rafique, chief of UNICEF field office, Bauchi, said this during the close-out of the programme on Friday in Gombe.
She said the measure was to ensure athe vailability of at least two skilled health workers to support maternal and newborn services at the grassroots.
Ms Rafique said the intervention significantly improved maternal and child health outcomes and strengthened PHC systems and routine immunisation services in the state.
She said the partnership also provided 11 cold stores, renovated five PHC centres, distributed two vehicles, 40 motorcycles, and 140 cold chain equipment to ensure improved access to potent vaccines.
The UNICEF official said that 24,874 vulnerable women and children had been enrolled in the health insurance scheme in the four priority zero-dose local government areas.
“Percentage of pregnant women supported at birth by a skilled health worker increased from 21.1 to 37.9 per cent between 2018 and 2024, with an 80 per cent increase.
“Percentage of women with postnatal checks during the first two days after birth increased from 25.1 to 44.9 per cent between 2018 and 2024, representing a 79 per cent increase.
“Children vaccinated with pental -1 increased from 37.3 to 66.0 per cent between 2018 and 2024, with a 77 per cent increase.
“Children fully immunised, all basic vaccinations, increased from 18.2 to 49.2 per cent between 2018 and 2024, representing a 170 per cent increase,” she said.
Ms Rafique further said that the partnership supported the development of the 2025 Gombe State Health Sector Annual Operational Plan (AOP), to serve as the instrument for sustainability of the programme.
She, therefore, advocated proactive measures to ensure sustainability of the programme through the prompt release of counterpart funds to facilitate effective implementation.
Ms Rafique commended the state government, traditional leaders and other stakeholders for their contributions to the success of the programme.
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya lauded the GAVI/State-funded Primary Healthcare initiative in the state.
Represented by Ibrahim Njodi, the secretary to the state government, Mr Yahaya said the state had utilised the partnership to support healthcare service delivery, renovate facilities and train frontline health workers.
He said the programme recorded remarkable successes resulting in improving health outcomes for children and women in the state.
He stated that primary health facilities were either constructed or upgraded to enable them to provide 24-hour services in rural and urban communities.
The governor said the state had enrolled 154,394 beneficiaries in the health insurance scheme to enhance access to quality healthcare service delivery.

Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya
“I’m delighted to report significant progress in maternal and child health indicators, indicating immunisation, antenatal care and hospital delivery as revealed by the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey 2024.
“This achievement is a testament to the substantial investment made by all parties involved in the MoU.
“We are grateful for the support from our MoU partners including financial and technical assistance,” he said.
Mr Yahaya commended the development partners for the quick intervention and refurbishing of the Gombe Central medical store, which was razed by fire in 2024.
Abuja
FCTA Confirms Antivenom Stock, Warns Negligent Hospitals, Gives Emergency Lines
FCTA Confirms Antivenom Stock, Warns Negligent Hospitals, Gives Emergency Lines
FCTA confirms antivenom stock, warns negligent hospitals, gives emergency lines. The FCTA said all public hFCTA confirms antivenom stock, warns negligent hospitals, gives emergency linesospitals have sufficient antivenom after singer Ifunanya Nwangene’s death at FMC Jabi. Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe warned facilities to follow protocols or face sanctions, stressing that early treatment is critical.

FCTA
The territory has added 12 ambulances, improved ICUs, and centralized antivenom storage.
Residents are urged to use emergency lines 090157892931 or 090157892932.
Economy
NARD: Resident Doctors Give FG Four Weeks To Meet Demands
NARD: Resident Doctors Give FG Four Weeks To Meet Demands
NARD: Resident doctors give FG four weeks to meet demands. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has issued a four-week ultimatum to the federal government to fully implement outstanding agreements on salaries, allowances and welfare.
The decision was taken at the end of the association’s national executive council (NEC) meeting and scientific conference, held from January 25 to 29, 2026, in Jos, Plateau state.
In a communiqué signed by Mohammad Suleiman, NARD president, the association expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and other key stakeholders for their roles in ongoing engagements.
The NEC acknowledged the reinstatement of disengaged doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, and commended the intervention of the ministry of labour and employment and the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS) on the outstanding 25 and 35 percent consolidated medical salary structure (CONMESS) and accoutrement allowance arrears.
NARD also noted that promotion and salary arrears had been forwarded to relevant authorities, with assurances from the minister of finance that payments would be expedited.
However, the association expressed concern over delays in circulating the directive affirming CONMESS 3 as the approved entry level for medical doctors.
It also decried the non-payment of the professional allowance provided for in the 2026 Appropriation Act and persistent salary arrears across several health institutions.
The association warned of worsening industrial relations at the Benue state University Teaching Hospital and demanded urgent action, alongside calls for improved welfare, timely release of training funds and renewed investment in health infrastructure nationwide.
“The NEC demands the expeditious clearance of the outstanding 25%/35% CONMESS arrears and accoutrement allowance arrears within the assured two weeks, as committed by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), following the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment,” the communique reads.

Doctors
“The NEC demands the prompt payment of all promotion arrears already forwarded to the appropriate authorities, in line with the assurances of the Honourable Minister of Finance for payment within the next four (4) weeks.
“The NEC demands the expedited payment of all outstanding salary arrears owed to specific centres, which have been duly forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Finance for processing, within the assured four (4) week timeline.
“After exhaustive deliberations and in recognition of the progress made by the Federal Government towards addressing the legitimate demands of Nigerian resident doctors, the NEC has resolved to extend the suspension of the Total Indefinite Comprehensive Strike (TICS) for a further period of four (4) weeks as a further goodwill gesture, to allow for the full implementation of the Association’s demands.”
The association had earlier suspended its plan to commence another strike on January 12.
The doctors said this was done after firm commitments from critical stakeholders following Shettima’s intervention.
Economy
Ododo Government Unveils Construction Of Model Veterinary Hospital
Ododo Government Unveils Construction Of Model Veterinary Hospital
Ododo government unveils construction of model veterinary hospital. Kogi’s commissioner for livestock development, Olufemi Bolarin, handed over the site to the contractor in Osara, Adavi.
The Kogi government has advanced the construction of a model veterinary hospital, a flagship project under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support project.
The facility, to be built at the Cattle Value Cluster Osara, Adavi LGA, aims to strengthen animal health systems, improve livestock productivity, and enhance food safety and security.
Kogi’s commissioner for livestock development, Olufemi Bolarin, handed over the site to the contractor in Osara, Adavi.
Mr Bolarin described the project as a strategic investment in improved animal health service delivery, disease prevention, and control to improve livestock productivity in Kogi.
He noted that the project would revolutionise the state’s livestock sector by providing modern veterinary services, enhancing disease surveillance, and promoting the One Health approach.
He thanked the federal government, the World Bank, and the national L-PRES office for their support, saying the project aligns with the state’s developmental agenda and livestock transformation roadmap.
Mr Bolarin praised Governor Ahmed Ododo for his visionary leadership to transform the livestock sector into a modern, productive and resilient contributor to food security, public health and economic development.

Ahmed Ododo
The commissioner urged contractors to comply with approved designs, timelines, and quality specifications.
The project coordinator, Abdulkabir Otaru, said the hospital would address challenges faced by livestock farmers, including limited access to quality veterinary services and inadequate disease surveillance.
Mr Otaru emphasised that the facility will provide modern veterinary clinical services, disease diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance, and support improved animal disease surveillance and response capacity.
He commended the governor for creating an enabling environment for the project and for promptly paying the State counterpart funding for the implementation of the L-PRES project in Kogi.
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