The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has highlighted the urgent need for $15 million to improve the quality of life in Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Christian Munduate, made the call during a news briefing in Gusau on Wednesday after an interactive session with stakeholders at Gidanwada Model Primary School, Bungudu Local Government Area.
Key Concerns:
Munduate emphasized the dire need for matching grants from the state governors to address pressing socioeconomic issues, including malnutrition, poor healthcare, and open defecation.
She noted:
- Malnutrition: Millions of children and nursing mothers in the region are severely malnourished, with Northern Nigeria recording 5.5 million cases of acute malnutrition.
- Open Defecation: Over 40 million Nigerians practice open defecation, a major contributor to disease outbreaks and a threat to polio eradication efforts.
UNICEF’s Support and Appeal:
UNICEF has partnered with the Federal and Zamfara State Governments to make 50 Primary Healthcare Centers fully functional. Munduate assured continuous technical support to ensure sustainability but urged stronger collaboration among states, partners, and stakeholders to address these challenges.
She called for a united effort to provide essential services like education, healthcare, and nutrition, emphasizing that children and mothers deserve a better quality of life.
UNICEF’s Vision:
“Our mission is to work closely with stakeholders to tackle these pressing issues and uplift the living conditions of people in Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, and across Nigeria,” Munduate stated.
UNICEF’s appeal underscores the critical need for coordinated efforts to improve the welfare of vulnerable populations in Northern Nigeria.