Stakeholders review SCI -Gates Anchor Grant 4 in Kaduna
By Femi Mustapha
Stakeholders and officials of Save the Children International (SCI) convened on Tuesday 5th November 2024 in Zaria Kaduna State for a four Days meeting to review the SCI -Gates Advocacy Anchor Grant in Kaduna
The Gate’s Anchor IV Project is a health and Nutrition advocacy grant funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to strengthen the health system in Kaduna state and the nation at large.
Presenting an overview of projects, the Advocacy, Campaign, and Policy Manager/Survive of Save the Children International Ifedilichukwu Ekene Innocent said the Stakeholders are in Zaria to take stock of all that has happened in the last four years regarding the funding SCI received from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to implement health system strengthening projects in Kaduna and at the national level.
He explained that the project started in April 2021 to March. 2025, and focus on Health Systems strengthening, Priority health systems pillars, Healthcare Finance, Leadership and governance, Community participation, and Human Resources for Health.
Ifedilichukwu Ekene Innocent added that the stakeholders are also looking at various pillars of the health system. We have agreed to use this grant to review what has worked, what has not worked, what is outstanding, and where to focus our energy, knowing that the project will come to an end on March 31, 2025.
“We are here to take stock of all that has happened in the last four years regarding the funding Save the Children has received from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to implement health system strengthening projects in Kaduna and at the national level.
“The grant, anchored in partnership with Save the Children and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is focused on improving health systems in Kaduna State and nationally.
The Advocacy and Communications Coordinator Kaduna office of SCI Mikail Abdulrahman explained that the Objectives of the meeting are to pause and reflect on successes recorded through the project, document lessons learned and challenges encountered, and explore the sustainability of interventions in the state and nation.
He added that others’ objectives are to initiate plans for project closeout working with the Award unit and to agree on the next steps with timelines and responsibilities assigned to individuals.
In his presentation, The Kaduna State Ministry of Health Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr. Dauda Rabiu Anchau, said the Ministry has been working in partnership with SCI for a long. He especially remembers the role of SCI in the Six-month maternity leave established in the State.
“We worked tirelessly together with SCI, I remember Isah then always going to their office until it was legalized
“But as always the case the higher authority took the glory however it saved the children and civil society organizations that played a key role in ensuring that the government approved the six months of maternity leave
SCI is at the forefront of maternity leave.
“I drafted a memo to forward to the Commissioner of Health, he is the one who presented it at the then Executive Council, and then they approved it I feel if this achievement alone can stop here I will not forget to save the children we appreciate your support”
“Our partnership is not only for today, it is a long partnership and so I pray and hope that it will continue beyond today,” He said
