United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has advocated proactive measures to fast track sound budget planning to enhance quality healthcare service delivery in Bauchi State.

Stanley Garuba, Planning and Monitoring Specialist, UNICEF

Mr Stanley Garuba, Planning and Monitoring Specialist, UNICEF Field Office, Bauchi, made the call during the dissemination of the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and National Immunisation Coverage Survey (NIC), on Thursday in Bauchi.

UN Agency and Bauchi State Ministry of Budget

According to him, the exercise is being organised in collaboration between the UN Agency and Bauchi State Ministry of Budget and  Economic Planning.

Ministries, Departments and Agencies 

He said that it was designed to encourage sound budget planning and preparations by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state.

Garuba said the measure was imperative to address child mortality rate in the state which was higher compared to other states in the North-East region.

Bauchi State

He said the survey showed that Bauchi State recorded 153 deaths among under five children in every 1,000 births.

Bauchi State

“Other findings showed that early childhood death rate is higher in Bauchi State compared to the North-East states and the National figures.

Similarly; Seondary

“Similarly; Seondary school attendance in the state is less than 15 per cent among other indicators,” he said.

Water Sanitation and Hygiene 

He said the survey focused on healthcare, education, child protection, social policy, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

Permanent Secretary

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Idris Saleh said the exercise would guide the MDAs towars making good budget planning and preparations.

Saleh urged the participants to identify gaps and reflect it in planning the 2023 budget for their respective MDAs.
“The MDAs should identify the gaps and reflect it in the budget for 2023,” he said.

Also, Mr Amos Emmanuel, the State Officer, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in the state, said the dissimination exercise aimed at strengthening national satistics capacity, provide updated information on women and children.

This, he said, would assist the states in their planning and decision making processes.