KOICA, UNFPA Donates $5 million Dollars To Borno, Maiduguri Women


Otobong Gabriel, Abuja

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Office in Nigeria in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) recently supported Borno and Maiduguri women and girls with 5 million US Dollars for maternal and child healthcare, fistula care and improve capacity.

The KOICA team led by the Country Director Mr. Woochan Chang in a courtesy visit to the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, said KOICA through its implementing partner, is delivering critical medical services to women and girls in Borno State with a total funding support of 5 million US Dollars, under a 4-year period from 2018 -2021.

Chang said, "the project is designed to increase access to comprehensive maternal and child health care, fistula care and improve capacity for result-based data management system, adding that they recently conducted a project monitoring and evaluation exercise to Maiduguri, Borno State, during May 2021 for the humanitarian project titled “Fostering Resilience and Provision of Basic Medical Services for Women and Girls in Borno State, Nigeria” currently implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

"Monitoring and Evaluation activities carried out during the trip included a visit to the fully equipped Fistula Centre of Excellence at the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri, the Fistula Centre of Excellence is a major output of KOICA’s intervention and the center has been adjudged as a flagship Ultra-modern center for the repair of obstetric fistula cases in the Northeast, he said.

"the project has enabled the delivery of maternal and child health care and fistula care related trainings to 374 health workers, supported 449 free repair surgeries obstetric fistula cases at the Ultra-modern fistula center, delivered vocational skills trainings and starter-kits to 391 fistula survivors, supported 72, 916 assisted deliveries by skilled birth assistants, supported 3,032 Caesarean deliveries, 43,773 Antenatal Care (ANC) delivery, 29,902 Postnatal Care (PNC) delivery, enhanced the capacity of primary healthcare facilities to deliver maternal and child healthcare in the COVID-19 outbreak through the procurement of Ten mini-ambulances, supported the upgrade and renovation of two existing health facilities at 505 Housing Jere LGA and Usmanti settlement of Konduga LGA, provided 78 health facilities with essential medical equipment, supplies and other items".

In his remarks, the Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum appreciated the Korean Government’s support in increasing access to comprehensive maternal and child health care and fistula care for women and girls in Borno State.
He emphasized on the need to avoid duplication of efforts among donor partners in the state. The KOICA Country Director in his response, appreciated the Governor for his hospitality and called for the Governor’s support in ensuring the sustainability of the project deliverables after the end of the project.
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The mission trip included the launching of the first-of-its-kind Fistula Centre of Excellence and Integrated Women Empowerment Centre located with Maiduguri Municipal Council (MMC) by Prof Isa Hussaini Marte, Chief of Staff to the Borno State Governor who represented the Governor and Hon. Zuwaira Gambo, Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development who represented the First Lady of Borno State, Dr. Falmata Umara Zullum.