The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mohamed Fall

  • UNICEF canvasses Aisha Buhari’s support in child abuse eradication

    UNICEF canvasses Aisha Buhari’s support in child abuse eradication

    The United Nations Children’s Educational Fund (UNICEF) on Saturday appealed to wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, to help in championing the rights and educational advancement of Nigerian children.

    The Country Representative of UNICEF, Mr. Mohamed Fall, made the call at a reception in honour of Mrs. Buhari as a strong advocate of rights of women and children at the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD) in Abuja.

    The event was jointly organised by the Centre and the Blaugrana International Sports, with the theme: “Legends For Children Project.”

    The UNICEF presented Mrs. Buhari with a Global Award of Excellence for Humanitarian Services in recognition of her service to humanity through her pet project the ”Future Assured.”

    Fall said the award was relevant considering the President wife’s efforts in providing support to victims of insurgency, especially the protection of the rights of women and children, who suffered gender-based violence.

    He lamented that there were over 10 million out-of-school children in Sub-Saharan Africa hence the need for stakeholders, especially the wife of the President to join the campaign and advocate for child enrolment in school.

    “We are very excited and overwhelmed that after a rigorous screening, you stood tall among the competitors.

    “This is our own way of saying, continue with the good work.

    “The UNICEF sees you as a mother of the children in the entire Sub-Saharan Africa and we urge you to continue in assisting UNICEF to champion the cause of child rights to education in Nigeria,” he said.

    NAN

     

     

  • Nigeria ranked 11th highest on newborn deaths – UNICEF report

    Nigeria ranked 11th highest on newborn deaths – UNICEF report

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund ( UNICEF ), has ranked Nigeria 11th position on newborn deaths globally.

    This is according to a new report on “Newborn Mortality’’ released by UNICEF, which was obtained on Tuesday in Lagos.

    According to the report, eight of the 10 most dangerous places to be born are sub-Saharan Africa, where pregnant women are much less likely to receive assistance during delivery due to poverty, conflict and weak institutions.

    “With the newborn mortality rate of 29 deaths per 1,000 births, the global estimates rank Nigeria as the 11th highest on newborn deaths.

    “In the recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by the Government of Nigeria in 2016/17, the rate of newborn deaths per 1000 births is 37.

    “This national average hides the differences between the 36 states and the slow progress in some of them,’’ the report said.

    On the causes of newborn deaths, the report said that more than 80 per cent of newborn deaths were due to prematurity, asphyxia, complications during birth or infections such as pneumonia and sepsis.

    “These deaths can be prevented with access to well-trained midwives during antenatal and postnatal visits as well as delivery at a health facility.

    “These should be along with proven solutions like clean water, disinfectants, breastfeeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact, proper cord care, and good nutrition.

    “However, a shortage of well-trained health workers and midwives means that thousands don’t receive the life-saving support they need to survive,’’ it said.

    The report said that globally in low-income countries, the average newborn mortality rate was 27 deaths per 1,000 births, while in high-income countries, it was three deaths per 1,000.

    A statement by UNICEF issued by Eva Hinds, UNICEF Nigeria, quoted Mohamed Fall, UNICEF Nigeria’s Representative as saying “a fair chance in life begins with a strong, healthy start.

    “Unfortunately, many children in Nigeria are still deprived of this, MICS data tells us that the trend is improving but urgent action needs to be taken for Nigeria to reach the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ).’’

    The statement also quoted Henrietta Fore, UNICEF’s Executive Director as saying “we have more than halved the number of deaths among children under the age of five in the last quarter century.

    “We have not made similar progress in ending deaths among children less than one month old.

    “Given that the majority of these deaths are preventable, clearly we are failing the world’s poorest babies.’’

    Reacting to the report, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Mamaye Evidence for Action, said that the deaths were needless and could be prevented through more concerted efforts by the government and all stakeholders.

    Mr Laide Shokunbi, Media Advisor of the NGO, urged more support from the Federal Government to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths in the country.

    “Maternal and neonatal deaths could be prevented when women receive proper health care from skilled providers during pregnancy, at the time of delivery and shortly after birth.

    “Our health facilities should be well-equipped and they should also have skilled providers including doctors, nurses, and midwives always available,’’ he said.

    Also, Mr Akin Jimoh, the Project Director, Development Communications Network (Devcoms), said there was the need for increased sensitisation on how to achieve good maternal, newborn and child health.

    “There is the need for aggressive awareness campaign on maternal and newborn health, especially in rural, semi-urban and hard-to –reach areas, everyone has to be involved.

    “Women and men need to have the right knowledge, our government needs to strengthen our institutions especially the health sector, it has to be well –funded and monitored.

    “Also, our medical and health professionals need to be dedicated and conscientious,’’ Jimoh said.

    NAN

  • Hand washing practice reduces risk of diseases by 40% – UNICEF

    Hand washing practice reduces risk of diseases by 40% – UNICEF

    The United Nations Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) says that hand washing practice can reduce the risk of contracting diarrhoea and other communicable diseases by 40 per cent.

    The UNICEF’s Country Representative, Mr Mohamed Fall made the assertion in Akure on Friday when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State.

    Fall stressed the importance of promoting sanitation and hand washing in complementing the achievements of the state government in the areas of healthcare and quality education.

    He pointed out that partnership between UNICEF and the state government will go a long way to improve sanitation in the state.

    Fall noted that access to quality education and good healthcare is crucial to human capital development.

    Driving home the position of Nigeria in African Affairs, the country representative said, “if Nigeria does not make Sustainable Development Goals, Africa will not make it, especially the sub Saharan Africa.”

    He also commended the state’s achievements in the area of child survival, saying “From all indicators on child survival, the state is doing well, Ondo State is standing as one of the best performing state in under five (child) survival.

    “All investments might be lost without having good sanitation, but with joint effort must be geared towards better sanitation in the state,” he said.

    Fall urged the governor to ensure security of lives and property of the agency’s staff posted to Akure, saying, “Akure has the best sub-office so far.”

    Responding, Gov. Akeredolu thanked the UNICEF for its concerns about improving the sanitation in Akure and other parts of the state.

    The governor also assured UNICEF of adequate security of lives and property of all and sundry living in the state, saying that his administration was committed to achieving the SDGs and promoting hand washing and sanitation.

    He promised that measures would be taken to ensure that all houses have toilets to enhance the state’s environment and reduce open defecation.

    Billboards on importance of sanitation and having toilets were visible at the main entrance of the governor’s office.

    NAN

  • Nigeria children under five risk poor mental, physical devt – UNICEF 

    Nigeria children under five risk poor mental, physical devt – UNICEF 

    • As minister decried Nigeria’s rate of under-five mortality

    A new United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) report stated that more than half of Nigerian children under five risk poor development because they lack Early Childhood Development support.

    The United Nations agency therefore called for investment in early childhood development, which it described as the most sensible thing to do.

    The global report, which was launched in Abuja Tuesday, reveals that Nigeria is putting its children at risk of under-development, both physically and mentally.

    This according to the report is because critical national policies are not providing an adequate foundation for their growth.

    The report titled “Early Moments Matter for Every Child”, outlines three policies that can give parents the time and resources needed to support their young children’s healthy development.

    The recommended policies are: two years of free pre-primary education; six months of paid maternity leave; and four weeks of paid paternity leave.

    “Nigeria currently has just three months of paid maternity leave, only one year of free pre-primary education and no paternity leave at all. Only about one in every 10 pre-primary children are enrolled in early education activities”, the report states.

    The report revealed that a 2016 national survey indicated that 31% of children under the age of five are moderately or severely underweight in Nigeria.

    “Stunting as a result of malnutrition can cause irreversible physical and mental retardation. Even though exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life has clearly been shown to improve physical and mental development, the same survey revealed that only 24% of Nigerian children are exclusively breastfed for six months. Paid maternity leave will help to increase the number of children exclusively breastfed.

    In his presentation, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall said that Early Childhood Development, which includes physical and cognitive support, has a strategic place in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

    “Investing in Early Childhood Development including services to support caregivers, quality pre-primary education and good nutrition will help to secure healthy and productive future generations in Nigeria,” he noted.

    “Also, supporting exclusive breastfeeding, having good Early Childhood Development policies in place will help to improve the overall health and nutrition of a child, enable parents and caregivers to be more responsive to children’s needs and provide greater safety and security.”

    Speaking at the launch of the report, Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole   posited that the under-five mortality rate is still unacceptably high.
    To address the situation, Adewole said that the Federal Ministry of Health is revising all the existing Policies and Strategic plans on Maternal Newborn and Child health in line with the   Global Strategy on Women, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

    He stressed that the first portal of entry for Early Childhood development is Health.

    He said: “As you are aware, the under-five mortality rate is still unacceptably high in this country largely due to high newborn deaths but we have made some significant progress. The under-five mortality declined from 201/1000 live births NDHS 2003 to 128/1000 live births NDHS 2013.

    “The first portal of entry for Early Childhood development is Health.  It is based on this notion that the Federal Ministry of Health is revising all the existing Policies and Strategic plans on Maternal Newborn and Child health in line with the   Global Strategy on Women, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. These policies include the National Health Policy, Reproductive Health Policy, Child Health Policy and Infant and Young Child feeding. Furthermore, several strategic plans focusing on early Childhood development are in place; Integrated Maternal Newborn, Child Health Strategy, Nigeria Every Newborn and Action Plan and the National Strategy on Scale up of 4 %.

    On his part, Mr. Rachid Benmessaoud, World Bank Country Director, Nigeria said, “The World Bank Group is committed to supporting the effort of the government of Nigeria in ensuring that every Nigerian child reaches his or her potential.  This potential can be achieved by addressing the problem of inequality at birth and responding to the welfare rights of every child to access adequate nutrition, live in safe and secure environments and access to stimulation and learning opportunities.”