A child rights advocacy club (CRA) in Jigawa State has called on the Jigawa State government to increase the number of paediatric intensive care units in the state, as the only one on ground is totally inadequate for the people.
Members of the club (CRA) made the call during a drama competition between Dutse Model International Primary School and Kudai Model Boarding Primary School in the state organised by the INSPIRING Project under the Save the Children International (SCI).
Speaking during the event, the chairperson of the Model Boarding School, Kudai, Mr Zaharaddeen Sabo, said the club with support from INSPIRING has addressed the challenges of the Universal Health Coverage earlier bedevilling the children.
According to him, the club, which is voice for the voiceless children, also expressed the need for additional paediatric intensive care units in the state in addition to the only one at Rasheed Shikoni Specialist Hospital in Dutse.
Chairperson of Dutse Model School, Hajiya Nana Fatima Abdullahi, urged stakeholders to provide free sanitary pads to girl children in schools in the state.
She said majority of the girl pupils are from less-privileged parents, where they cannot afford the item, which as a result, has led to infections and diseases among the girls.
She said the club paid advocacy visits to the Commissioner of Women Affairs, the Ministry of Health and to His Royal Highness, the Emir of Dutse, to appeal for the provision of at least one Paediatric Intensive Care unit in each of the five emirate councils in the state.
The Chief of Party, INSPIRING Project, Dr Adamu Isah who was represented by Child Health and Immunisation Specialist of Save the Children International, Hajiya Mairo Yakubu Musa said, Save the Children International remains voice of the voiceless children, particularly on issues relating to health.