The nonprofit organisation Plan International has partnered with the Canadian government to donate over one billion Naira ($2.5 million) in medical equipment and infrastructure improvements to healthcare facilities in Nigeria’s Sokoto and Bauchi states.
The donation, part of Plan International’s five-year Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (Aspire) project, was formally handed over to the Sokoto State Primary Health Care Development Agency on Tuesday, October 22.
“This support represents a significant milestone in enhancing healthcare systems across northern Nigeria,” said Dr. Helen Idiong, Plan International Nigeria’s Director of Programme Quality and Influencing. “It will ensure improved access to quality care, especially for adolescents and marginalised communities.”
The medical supplies, which include hospital beds, examination and delivery couches, cupboards, metal pedal bins, automatic fetoscope, instrument trollies, manual and electrical vacuums, sphygmomanometers, sanitary pads, and hospital consumables would be distributed to 53 and 36 public health care facilities in Sokoto and Bauchi states respectively. Additionally, Plan International has completed renovations on seven healthcare centres in Sokoto state.
“These health facilities represent not just a physical transformation, but a crucial step forward in strengthening healthcare services for the people of Sokoto, especially the adolescent and marginalised population,” the Head of Development Cooperation at Global Affairs Canada, the government agency funding the project, Arash Irantalab Tehrani said.
The Sokoto State Commissioner of Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, described the initiative as a significant milestone in improving healthcare delivery across the state. Alhaji Muhammad Bello Sifawa, Secretary to the Sokoto State Governor, commended Plan International and the Canadian government for their support, noting the direct impact it will have on residents’ lives.
The donation comes at a critical time, as Nigeria’s northern states continue to grapple with challenges in maternal and child healthcare. Sokoto, in particular, has one of the country’s highest rates of child mortality.
“This project has a mental health and psychosocial support component, in addition to education and financial empowerment initiatives,” Idiong explained. “It’s a comprehensive approach to advancing the health, rights, and overall wellbeing of women and girls in these communities.”
The handover ceremony marked the conclusion of the first phase of Plan International’s infrastructure upgrades across seven local government areas in Sokoto state. The organisation plans to continue expanding its healthcare interventions in the region through the Aspire initiative, funded by Global Affairs Canada.
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