By Khalid Idris Doya
Bauchi state Governor, Bala Mohammed has flagged off the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS) Project for renovating and upgrading 15 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and 9 primary schools across five local government areas of the state.
Speaking during the official flag-off of UNICEF's CRIBS project and the handing over of project sites to contractors at the Government House in Bauchi on Monday, Governor Bala expressed concern over the devastating impact of climate change on children and vulnerable communities.
According to him, the climate crisis directly threatens the ability of children to survive, grow and thrive, noting that children are more physically and physiologically vulnerable to environmental shocks than adults.
Represented by his deputy Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, said children are less capable of withstanding extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, storms and heatwaves, while also facing greater risks of diseases worsened by climate change, including cholera and malaria, due to weaker immune systems.
"An estimated 850 million children worldwide, one in every three children, currently live in areas where at least four climate and environmental shocks overlap," he said.
The Governor noted that Nigeria remains one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world and a priority nation for climate adaptation efforts, adding that the country is home to about 10 per cent of children living in the world’s highest-risk climate zones.
He explained that climate change continues to disrupt education and worsen climate-related illnesses, deaths and malnutrition, especially among women and girls who remain among the most vulnerable groups.
He further noted that healthcare facilities themselves are increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts, affecting their ability to provide life-saving services to vulnerable populations.
Governor Bala also lamented the effects of recurrent flooding and heavy rainfall on education, saying school closures, destruction of facilities and conversion of schools into emergency shelters continue to deny children access to learning.
He commended the United Kingdom Government, through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), for supporting efforts to address the devastating effects of climate change on health and education infrastructure.
According to him, the FCDO, in collaboration with government and non-government partners, developed the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services Programme, which is being implemented in Bauchi state by UNICEF.
"Under the implementation framework, the project targets the upgrade of 15 Primary Healthcare Centres and nine primary schools across five local government areas of the state," he said.
He added that the renovation and upgrading of the facilities would provide conducive environments for learning and quality healthcare delivery while mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
The Governor praised UNICEF for its continuous support to Bauchi State in healthcare delivery, primary education, adolescent and reproductive health, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services.
He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to meeting all counterpart funding obligations and healthcare agreements with development partners.
"Within the last one year alone, our partnership with UNICEF and other development partners has enabled the Bauchi state government to contribute over N1.854 billion in counterpart funding for projects and interventions aimed at strengthening the primary healthcare system," he stated.
He disclosed that the state government with the partners' support had constructed and renovated more than 130 Primary Healthcare Centres and two General Hospitals, while also approving free antenatal care and delivery services for pregnant women.
Earlier, the Chief of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, said UNICEF remains committed to protecting children and ensuring their well-being despite growing climate challenges.
She noted that climate change is no longer a future threat but a present reality, evident in rising temperatures, destructive rainstorms and worsening environmental conditions affecting schools and healthcare facilities.
According to her, many children remain out of school while several health facilities and schools lack access to clean water and proper sanitation.
"Water and sanitation are essential for children's survival and development. Without these basic services, we cannot guarantee a safe and protected environment for children," she said.
She described the CRIBS initiative as a major step toward ensuring climate-resilient schools and healthcare facilities where children and mothers can remain safe despite climate-related challenges.
Also speaking, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam, said the project was designed to provide a conducive and climate-resilient environment for quality maternal and child healthcare services in line with global best practices.
He said the Bala Mohammed administration has consistently prioritised the health sector, including organising the state's first comprehensive health summit and declaring a state of emergency on healthcare.
Dambam added that the administration has consistently met the Abuja Declaration target of allocating at least 15 per cent of the state budget to the health sector.
He commended UNICEF and development partners for their continued support toward improving healthcare delivery in Bauchi State.
0 Comments