Plan International Nigeria has launched a $13.7 million Canadian dollars (N3 billion) project in Bauchi state to tackle maternal and new born death in the state.
The five year project christened Bauchi Opportunities for Responsive Neonatal and Maternal Health (BORN) is funded by the Global Affairs of Canada.
The project aims to cut down on the rate of women and children dying at birth from 2016 to 2020 with a target of two million women and young girls of child bearing age.
It is being implemented in ten local government areas in Bauchi state which include Bauchi, Toro, Darazo, Misau, Ningi, Jama’are, Gamawa, Katagum, Dass and Kirfi.
Speaking at the event, Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, Dr Hussaini Abdu said “we must all work together to ensure no woman die bringing life to this world.”
He blamed poverty especially among women for the high rate of maternal death in the North East and North West of the country which he described as “unacceptable.”
“We are working to reverse this challenge,” Dr Abdu said.
L – R: Plan International Canada Director, Program Management and Compliance, Susan Smandych; Country Director, Plan International Nigeria, Dr Hussaini Abdu and Senior Development Officer Nigeria Programme, Global Affairs Canada, Stefan Paquette at the launching of the BORN project in Bauchi.
Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria who was represented by the Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation at the Global Affairs of Canada Linda Elrichs said the cordial relationship between Nigeria, Bauchi state in particular and the Canadian people had come a long way.
“Bauchi state in particular was chosen by Canada’s development assistance as a focal state since 2002. So, it’s been a long time since we had a partnership with Bauchi state,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the project will reduce the high mortality rate of mother and child at birth drastically to put the state on the path of sustainable development.
L-R: Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation, Global Affairs of Canada, Linda Elrichs and Chief of Staff to Bauchi state governor Alhaji Abdul Sule Katagum who represented the governor at the launching of the BORN project in Bauchi on Wednesday.
Also launched at the event was the Livelihoods and Nutrition Empowerment (LINE) implemented by Oxfam, which is also funded by the Canadian government.
The $14 million Canadian dollars (N3.2 billion) project targets the improvement of the livelihoods of 10,000 farming households through combination of crop, livestock and nutrition interventions, reaching 80, 000 people in the process, said Oxfam Associate Country Director, Ms Evelyn Mere.
In his remark, the Bauchi state governor Mohammed Abubakar who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abdul Sule Katagum, expressed gratitude to the Canadian High Commission and the Global Affairs Canada for the support.
The project launch was attended by top government officials including representatives of ministers of Women Affairs and Health, Bauchi state governor, commissioners as well as traditional and religious leaders in the state.
