ZAMFARA SET TO LAUNCH SOCIAL PROTECTION POLICY AND LAW, GOV. LAWAL TELLS UNICEF
PRESS STATEMENT
ZAMFARA SET TO LAUNCH SOCIAL PROTECTION POLICY AND LAW, GOV. LAWAL TELLS UNICEF
Governor Dauda Lawal has expressed his administration’s readiness to launch the Zamfara State Social Protection Policy and Law.
On Wednesday, the governor received the UNICEF country representative and other donor partners at the government house in Gusau.
A statement by the spokesperson of the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, revealed that Cristian Munduate, the UNICEF representative for Nigeria, expressed satisfaction regarding the progress in the Zamfara Health sector.
The statement added that UNICEF, GAVI, WHO, and representatives of the Nigerian Governors Forum were present at the dissemination meeting of the Zamfara state social laws and policy.
In his remarks, Governor Lawal emphasized that the Zamfara State Gender Policy is a significant step towards dismantling barriers and fostering an inclusive environment for all individuals to access opportunities.
“In addition to the Gender Policy, we are also launching the Zamfara State Social Protection Policy and Law. These documents are critical in ensuring that our social systems are robust and responsive to the needs of our people, particularly the most vulnerable.
“The Child Protection Law and its Implementation Strategy reinforce our commitment to safeguarding children’s rights and well-being. As the foundation of our future, we must ensure they have a safe, nurturing environment to achieve their potential.
“The Zamfara State Disability Law demonstrates our commitment to upholding the rights of persons with disabilities. It seeks to eliminate discrimination, enhance accessibility, and promote their inclusion in society. We have involved key stakeholders, including persons with disabilities, to ensure their voices are heard.
“Accordingly, the law will be reviewed for greater inclusiveness, and a board will be established to address the specific needs of the disabled community.”
Governor Lawal further stressed that his administration inherited a health sector in a monumental crisis.
“To realize this and attain our goal of universal access to quality and affordable healthcare, we declared a state of emergency in the health sector.
“For example, through the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), the state government renovated 61 health facilities, including 10 General Hospitals, and intervened in 51 other primary health clinics.
“With direct state government funding, we renovated and upgraded Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital and the General Hospitals in Talata Mafara and Shinkafi, converting them to Zonal Referral Specialist Hospitals.
“We also commenced the construction of a VVF Centre for managing maternal complications and approved the construction of an advanced diagnostic center as part of our commitment to delivering quality healthcare.
“Our efforts, supported by all partners here, have already begun yielding results across all health system building blocks.
“We successfully halted the circulation of mutant poliovirus in Zamfara State and recorded a significant reduction in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, such as measles, meningitis, and yellow fever. In 2024, our state recorded only two cases of diphtheria despite large-scale outbreaks in neighboring states.
“We also invested significantly in rehabilitating the College of Nursing and Midwifery in Gusau and renovating the College for Health Science and Technology in Tsafe.
The governor appreciated the partnership of UNICEF with the state, and the interventions made an intentional impact.
“On investments made by GAVI in our state, we are particularly grateful for your connecting 50 of our primary healthcare centers with solar power, which enables them to provide 24-hour services efficiently.”
“This project enhances our capacity to store and distribute vaccines to service points. Your investment in motorized solar boreholes and toilets at 29 healthcare centers improves comfort for workers and patients, strengthening community ties to health facilities.
“We appreciate your support in enrolling 33,000 vulnerable women and children in the state health insurance scheme. This project is one of the most impactful ever, and we are dedicated to sustaining its gains.”
Earlier, Cristian Munduate, the UNICEF representative for Nigeria, said it is the first time globally that GAVI has decided to support the subnational health system. “We are happy because the results in Zamara are seen, and this will motivate GAVI to continue supporting health interventions at this level and not only at the national interventions.”
SULAIMAN BALA IDRIS
Spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor
January 23, 2025