The Office of Development and External Development, Commonwealth (FCDO) of the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has delivered 11 health and climate resistant education facilities to the government of the Jigawa state as part of the efforts to strengthen essential services against floods and extreme heat.
The projects, executed under the climate resistant infrastructure program for basic services (CBRS), were completed in the areas of the local government of Dutse, Kafin-Hausa and Birniwa of the State.
Speaking at the ceremony of commissioning in the city of Chamo, Dutse LGA, the director of Development of the FCDO, Mrs. Cynthia Rowe, revealed that the United Kingdom government has committed £ 19 million to the Cribs program in the states of Jigawa and Kano.
“This initiative is safeguarding 39 primary medical care centers and 45 schools against the growing risks of climate change: floods, droughts and extreme heat,” Rowe said.
He described Nigeria as the second place in the world in risks related to climate for children, emphasizing that the intervention would protect access to health and education services.
He praised the commitment of the Jigawa state government with human development and promised that the FCDO would continue to expand its interventions in the state, noting that the facilities provided were scalable and property of the community capable of saving lives and ensuring the learning of children for the future.
For his part, the representative of UNICEF Country, Wafaa Saeed, praised Jigawa for becoming the first state in Nigeria to reach and maintain a defecation -free state.
He also recognized the significant progress of the State in the eradication of polyomyelitis, saying: “Jigawa has achieved more than 60 percent in the eradication of polyomyelitis, and UNICEF undertakes to work with the government to guarantee the eradication of 100 % by the end of the year.”
In addition, he assured that UNICEF would intensify efforts to address the problem of children outside school in the state.
In his comments, Governor Umar Namadi described the projects as a strategic response to Jigawa’s vulnerability to floods and perennial storms, which often damage the public infrastructure.
“The remodeled and climate resistant infrastructure will serve as a model, and promise to monitor its efficiency and climb it to other local governments to achieve greater cost savings, provision of sustainable services and a reduction in environmental degradation,” said the governor.
He pointed out that the primary health center and primary school, built in the 1960s, had suffered several renovations, but had never witnessed the improvement scale that is delivered under the Cribs program.
The event was attended by the representative of the Minister of Health, Dr. Okara Dogara, officials of the National Office of Coordination Coordination (SWAP) of the Lafiya-UK program, Dr. Usman Gwarzo and the senior technical leader, Dr. Hassana Hussaini Adamu.
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