By Sule Aliyu, Bauchi
Bauchi State state governments in collaboration with the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the National Population Commission (NPC) have flagged of a massive birth registration campaign in Bauchi State.
Flagging off the ceremony, Governor Mohammed Abubakar assured that all primary healthcare facilities and government hospitals in the state will have a desk officer dedicated to registration of birth.
He also added that all relevant state government agencies and departments are to key into the initiative of UNICEF Maternal, New born and Child health and Nutrition (MNCHN) project to ensure that henceforth all births in the state are registered and appropriate certificate issued.
He therefore called on all parents, caregivers, traditional and religious leaders, as well as opinion leaders to cooperate with the registrars that will go from house to house in the next ten days from 6th to 16th July, 2017 during the campaign period to register all children under 5 years.
Speaking in a welcome address at the flag off ceremony the NPC Federal Commissioner, Alhaji Hassan Bashir said that the essence of the campaign was to address the low level of birth registration of children between 0 to five years in the state.
“The figure is least in the North East sub region standing at about 25% of expected number. Such intervention has taken place in 2 other states (Adamawa and Kebbi States) and since then, the level of registration in those states have really boosted to about 70%.
He said that the exercise will also help in providing an accurate data for proper policies planning by the state and federal governments in the areas of health, education and provision of social amenities.
The NPC Federal commissioner therefore commended Bauchi State government for providing office accommodation for the commission to carry out the exercise.
In his address the Chief Field Office, UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi field office Dr. Abdullahi KaiKai, said with funding supports from European Union, integrating birth registration with the healthcare delivery system is the practical approach in which UNICEF, the National Population Commission, the Bauchi State Government through the Ministry of Health and the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency are collaborating to ensure increased birth registration coverage can be attained and sustained in Bauchi State.
Dr Kaikai said UNICEF appreciates the efforts of the Government of Bauchi State while recalling that in 2014; about 1,292 health workers in various health facilities across Bauchi State have been trained on birth registration process so that they can support the conduct of birth registration efforts in the various health facilities in the State.
Dr. Abdullahi KaiKai said in spite of the support garnered so far and foundation strengthening efforts, the National Population Commission in Bauchi State needs a lot of intensive efforts to registration thousands of children being missed both at the health facilities and in marginalized, hard to reach, rural and very rural communities.
The need therefore for accurate data for planning purposes, according to Dr. KaiKai cannot be overemphasized especially as it concerns health, education, and the provision of amenities.
He added that the exercise is a practical approach to ensure increase in birth registration coverage in the state.
“As of January 2014, about 1,292 health workers in various health facilities across Bauchi State have been trained on birth registration process so that they can support conduct of birth registration efforts in the various health facilities in the state”, he added.
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