The Bayelsa State Government has signed a three-year rolling work plan with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to enhance healthcare, nutrition, and child protection services in the state.
The agreement, covering the period from 2025 to 2027, also focuses on strengthening social policies and protection mechanisms to improve overall well-being.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Yenagoa, Deputy Governor Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo highlighted the state’s commitment to addressing healthcare challenges, including efforts to pass the Bayelsa Health Bill. The bill, once enacted, will mandate the allocation of 1% of the state’s annual budget to primary healthcare, aligning with UNICEF’s requirements.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo praised UNICEF for its ongoing support and noted that the work plan would serve as a framework for evaluating progress in healthcare delivery. He also emphasized the government’s dedication to retaining key health workers from the recently concluded GAVI Project and expanding the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme to include community health coverage.
“We deeply appreciate UNICEF’s contributions to our state, the South-South region, and Nigeria as a whole. Their unwavering focus on child survival, education, health, and social protection has significantly strengthened our capacity to reach rural communities,” he stated.
UNICEF’s Port Harcourt Chief of Field Office, Dr. Anslem Audu, described the partnership as a collective commitment to improving the lives of children and women in Bayelsa. He acknowledged the state’s privileged position as the only South-South state to sign the work plan with the World Bank and expressed confidence in the collaboration’s ability to build resilience and ensure long-term impact.
Dr. Audu urged the government to prioritize primary healthcare funding and release the Child Nutrition Match Fund to combat malnutrition. He also advocated for extending the six-month paid maternity leave policy to support maternal and child health.
Bayelsa’s Commissioner for Health, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, hailed the agreement as a major milestone, appreciating UNICEF’s technical and financial assistance alongside contributions from international partners such as GAVI.
With this renewed collaboration, Bayelsa State aims to strengthen its healthcare systems and improve child welfare, ensuring sustainable progress in key social sectors.
