The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a €70 million European Development Fund support to improve maternal and child health care in the country.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole (photo), said the Nigerian government saw the need to pay much attention to the Primary Healthcare systems (PHCs) as it is the key strategy towards improving the health of the general public.

“Mr President recently flagged off the Revitalization process of PHCs and called on all International Partners as well as individuals to support the effort and today EU has responded and we want to thank you for making it happen. At the end of this exercise, the EU would have strengthened 774 PHCs in the states,” he said.

Out of the €70million mobilized, €50 million will be from UNICEF to ensure that by 2020, 80% of the areas in Adamawa, Bauchi and Kebbi States have functional primary health care centres while the remaining €20 million is to be disbursed by the WHO to support the strengthening of health care systems in Anambra and Sokoto States and also support efforts to wipe out polio permanently from Nigeria.

Anita Fatunji