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The European Union has expressed satisfaction with the level of implementation of the Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescent Health, SARAH programme in Nigeria.
The EU Country Health Adviser, Dr Anthony Anyeke stated this in an interview with journalists at the end of the Two day National Steering Committee Meeting on EU SARAH and tour of facilities at the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital, KWASUTH, and Primary Healthcare Center, Alanamu, in Ilorin.
Dr Anyeke who stated that the budget for the programme is forty million euros, equivalent to over eight trillion naira, said that the facility tour had shown that the implementing States understand the rationale behind the programme and have taken ownership.
This position was corroborated by the representative of UNICEF, Dr Fatima Gohar and her UNFPA counterpart, Abigail Msemburi.
In a submission, the representative of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr John Ovuorare expressed optimism that the successes being recorded in the EU SARAH implementing States, will serve as reference points and cascade to other States of the Federation.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam expressed optimism that the EU SARAH programme would become an integral part of the State’s health system with the structures being put in place by the present administration.
Some beneficiaries of the EU SARAH programme expressed appreciation to the both the Federal and State Government as well development partners.
The committee also paid courtesy visits to the office of Secretary to the Kwara State Government House, Wife of the State Governor, and palace of Emir of Ilorin, where they sought collaboration for the sustainability of EU SARAH programme.
The National Steering Committee Meeting which held in Kwara, was the first of its kind since the launch of the EU SARAH programme in Abuja in December, 2024.
The implementing States identified as SAK, are Sokoto, Adamawa and Kwara.
By Rasheedat Iliyas
