By Kayode Abdulazeez
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has entered into a partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on strengthening access to reproductive and adolescent health.
The partnership birthed under the “SARAH project” an initiative aims to enhance maternal and child health benefits, with a focus on improving child survival rates, maternal health outcomes, and strengthening social protection systems across the country.
Reacting to the partnership the Acting Yola State Director of NOA, Mr. Richard Bala Dangari, represented by Mr. Bethuel Mamman, Deputy Director of Special Duties and Local Government Affairs, welcomed the UNICEF delegation and reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to the partnership.
“We are fully dedicated to working with UNICEF to ensure the success of the SARAH project. This collaboration aligns with our mandate to promote positive behavioral change and mobilize communities for national development.”
Earlier in her speech, the leader of the UNICEF delegate, Dr. Noma Owens, emphasized the critical role of the NOA in achieving the project’s objectives.
“The National Orientation Agency has been instrumental in driving community engagement and awareness campaigns, making them a key partner in this endeavor.
“The SARAH project is expected to address critical gaps in reproductive and adolescent health services, particularly in underserved communities by leveraging NOA’s extensive network and UNICEF’s technical expertise, the initiative aims to create sustainable impact through awareness campaigns, capacity building, and the implementation of evidence-based interventions.”
She further emphasized on the importance of collaborative efforts involving governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private sector entities, and community-based initiatives to ensure the success of SARAH.
