UNICEF REITERATES IT’S SUPPORT FOR ABOUT 1.5M CHILDREN UNDER FIVE YEARS OF AGE IN KADUNA STATE 29-02-24
By Sadiq Aminu United Nations Children Fund has reiterated it determination to support about one point five million children under five years of age in Kaduna State to have access to Nutrition, education and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene WASH initiatives.
The UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief Nutrition Officer, Nemar Hajeebhoy stated this when she led other members on a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe at government house Kaduna.
Nemar Hajeebhoy commended the strong partnership between UNICEF and the Kaduna State Government in addressing malnutrition.
She congratulated Kaduna State government for its various achievements either policy or implementation.
“The key policy achievement, Kaduna State has done and led the way actually is on the Six month maternity leave”
“On behalf of UNICEF and mothers in Kaduna, i will like to thank you for that, we really appreciate and applauded the state government effort ”
“On the activities that is done in partnership with the state planning and budget team and the state primary health care board, we have achieved very high numbers of coverage”
The leader of the delegation also told the Deputy Governor that, they visited Igabi local government and look at the work that it’s Kaduna office was doing in partnership with the State government to ensure that, there is integrated mobile outreach to communities that are hard to reach or do not have care facilities
According to her, It was really amazing to see the hard work being done to ensure that, the children are vaccinated and they receive treatment for malnutrition among others.
“For me it is really an eye opener and wonderful to see children who previously no vaccination or even over a year got vaccination yesterday in Igabi LGA”
“The reason we choose to go to Igabi is because as you know, unfortunately there was a drone attack in Igabi, Tudun Biri on the 3rd of December and on behalf of UNICEF i will like to offer our condolences but the same we know the state machineries swung into action under your leadership and very strong response was set up”
Mrs Hajeebhoy also reaffirmed UNICEF commitment to continue supporting Kaduna State government to reduce the proportion of malnutrition and improve the health and wealth being of women and children.
Responding, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Balarabe expressed gratitude for UNICEF’s ongoing support to the state in various sectors.
Dr Balarabe also shared the proactive plans of the Kaduna State Government to combat malnutrition, including the establishment of nutrition centers in all Under-Five Clinics and the integration of nutrition programs into primary health care outreaches.
The Deputy Governor reaffirmed the State Government commitment to improve the health and well-being of children in the state, with a particular focus on fighting malnutrition.
Dr Hadiza Balarabe who thanked UNICEF for it long time support and collaboration, pledged to continue partnership in many ways.
In attendance was the Secretary to the State Government Dr Abdulkadir Meyere, Chief of Staff to the Governor Sani Liman Kila, Head of Service Habiba Shekarau, Commissioners of Planning and Budget Commission, Business Innovation and Technology and Human Services and Social Development as well as other government officials from different MDAs.