MELINDA, BILL GATES FOUNDATION HAIL ABUBAKAR BELLO

BAUCHI, Nigeria – The Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation has commended Bauchi State Governor, Abubakar Bello for judicious execution of outstanding 2015 and 2016 quadripartite funds, despite the dwindling economy, by ensuring that the children of Bauchi State are protected against vaccine preventable diseases.

Senior Programme Officer, Vaccine Delivery, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mrs Jenny Sequoia made the commendation in Bauchi.

The funds which amounted to N240million were put together to fulfil the MoU between the state and the foundation to build and upgrade health facilities in Bauchi State.

This includes 20 LGA cold stores, 80 equipped health facilities, equipping all 323 wards with functional solar direct drives and increased number of health facilities offering RI to 985 from about 841 in 2014.
Part of the funds were also used to improve vaccine stock across health facilities, improve immunization coverage, and funds disbursement to LGAs and health facility accounts.

Mrs Sequira implored Abubakar to provide the 2017 contributions to the partnership (70% – N210million) on time for ease of conducting all the operational activities of the programme in the state.