By Akanta Hannah
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, says his administration is committed to sustaining the successes recorded under the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2022.
The Governor stated this during UNICEF’s handover and way-forward ceremony held in Jalingo, the state capital.
Represented by the state’s Head of Civil Service, Dr Hamidu Ahmed, Kefas acknowledged the significant impacts of the MoU in strengthening the healthcare system across the state.
He assured the partners that no investment made by the intervention would be wasted even as the state takes ownership.
The Governor expressed optimism that the remarkable outcomes recorded so far would pave the way for future partnerships aimed at securing a healthier future for children and women in the state.
However, Dr. Agbu Kefas extended his appreciation to UNICEF, GAVI, and other stakeholders for their valuable contributions to the program’s success.
In a remark, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, thanked the state government, local government council chairmen, traditional rulers, and the entire healthcare workforce for their dedication to improving healthcare delivery across the state.
Dr Rafique appealed to the state government to equip the vaccine storage room at the zonal level and integrate healthcare workers empowered by GAVI into the state’s civil service to further strengthen the healthcare system.
With the state government’s commitment to sustaining the achievements of the intervention, Taraba State is poised towards making continuous progress in fortifying its healthcare sector.

