UNICEF Begins Restructuring of PHC in Ardo-Kola, Bali, Gassol, Karim-Lamido, Sardauna, Zing

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has commenced the restructuring and revitalisation of selected primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Ardo-Kola, Bali, Gassol, Karim-Lamido, Sardauna and Zing Local Government Areas of Taraba State.

The Chief of the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, made this known on Thursday in Jalingo during the official handover of the selected PHC facilities by the Taraba State Government to UNICEF through the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bondiya Buma. The facilities were subsequently handed over to contractors for the execution of the projects.

Dr. Rafique urged the contractors handling the projects to carry out their assignments with honesty, dedication and professionalism, stressing the need for quality delivery that would have a lasting impact on healthcare services in the state.

She also charged the chairmen of the benefiting local government councils to take personal responsibility for the projects by ensuring quality execution and timely completion within the stipulated period.

According to her, Taraba State is among the states with the highest number of healthcare facilities earmarked for revitalisation under the UNICEF Bauchi Field Office intervention across the country.

Dr. Rafique emphasised that the contractors must justify the confidence reposed in them by delivering standard facilities capable of significantly improving healthcare outcomes for women and children in the affected communities.

She disclosed that the contractors emerged through a transparent selection process, adding that the intervention covers Ardo-Kola, Bali, Gassol, Karim-Lamido, Sardauna and Zing local government areas.

She further noted that, if properly executed, the projects would contribute to saving the lives of mothers and children, urging all stakeholders, particularly council chairmen, to ensure the facilities are completed to standard within the three-month project timeline.

The project, being implemented by UNICEF with funding support from the Global Fund, is expected to be completed by March 2026.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bondiya Buma, commended the Global Fund for its support to Taraba State and praised UNICEF for ensuring transparency in the contractor selection process.

He reaffirmed the state government's commitment to providing an enabling environment for the contractors to successfully deliver the projects within the stipulated gestation period.

Dr. Buma also appealed to facility managers to cooperate fully with the contractors to ensure timely completion, noting that communities across Taraba State stand to benefit immensely from the intervention.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Nuhu Tukura, lauded UNICEF and the Global Fund for their continued support and called on media practitioners to sustain coverage of the state government's interventions, particularly in the health sector.

Responding on behalf of the contractors, representatives of Dari Investment and Cycle Gate Engineering assured stakeholders of their commitment to delivering quality projects that would improve healthcare services and bring relief to women and children across Taraba State.