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Tag: UNICEF

  • 9.6m youths to be affected with HIV in Africa by 2050 – UNICEF

    The United Nations Children Educational Fund ( UNICEF ) has estimated that 9.6 million young people aged from 15 to 24 years will be newly infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa between 2017 and 2050.

    Highlighting the ongoing toll of HIV among young people in the Africa region, Aleya Khalifa of UNICEF who presented data from several African countries said that about two-thirds of those affected will be girls and young women.

    Briefing Journalists at the 2018 AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, Khalifa said that the continued toll of HIV among young people reflects the rapidly growing youth population in the Africa region, a situation is expected to increase by 85 per cent by 2050 adding that the slow decline in HIV incidence among the youths has fallen by three per cent per year since 2010.

    Khalifa further noted that reducing the HIV burden among young people in sub-Saharan Africa will require better access to HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, and targeted testing services

    In his presentation, Namibian Minister of Health and Social Services, Bernard Haufiku disclosed that a population level study in Namibia (NAMPHIA) discovered that 77 per cent of people living with HIV in the country are virally suppressed, “that is the HIV level in their blood has fallen to low levels. Viral suppression indicates that people living with HIV are on successful treatment, which not only improves their health, but also prevents transmission to others.”

    He added that Namibia has surpassed the UNAIDS goal of achieving 73 per cent viral suppression by 2020 adding that its success reflects a high-level commitment to HIV treatment as the nation implemented an Acceleration Plan that rapidly scaled up HIV testing and treatment services in 2015.

    The President of the International AIDS Society and International Chair of AIDS 2018, Linda-Gail Bekker said that HIV remains a serious threat to the lives of people in sub-Saharan Africa.

    “Despite extraordinary progress, HIV remains a serious threat to the lives of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. The data presented today underscore both the urgent need and the opportunity to invest in expanded HIV prevention and treatment programmes that can turn back the epidemic in Africa.”

  • Access Bank commits N30m to UNICEF

    Access Bank Plc has reinforced its commitment to supporting vulnerable children who lack care and protection.

    The bank has since 2006 given N30 million to the United Nations Children’s Fund through the Access Bank, UNICEF and Fifth Chucker Polo Charity Shield Tournament, an event usually held in Kaduna State.

    According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), vulnerability is viewed as “a high probability of a negative outcome” or an expected welfare loss above a socially accepted norm, which results from risky or uncertain events, and the lack of appropriate means to deal with them.

    All vulnerable children have one thing in common: they have no reliable social safety network on hand to depend upon in order to adequately manage the risks they are daily exposed to.

    The bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, Herbert Wigwe, recently gave N10 million to the organization in order to improve the lives of children in the state.

    The donations are meant to improve school facilities, including the building of more computer classes and increasing the number of equipment as well as enhancing the lives of pupils.

    As part of its commitment to rebuilding the country’s future, the annual event is the climax to the high-profile Access Bank/UNICEF Charity Shield Polo tournament, which is in its 10th year and is aimed at reaching out to and highlighting the plight of vulnerable children.

  • Army hands over 183 Boko Haram child-suspects to UNICEF

    The Army yesterday formally handed over 183 children linked with Boko Hram insurgency to the United Nations Children and Education Fund (UNICEF) for rehabilitation.

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the handover was in line with the international laws for the protection of children in conflict.

    Buratai, who was represented by the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Rogers Nicholas, said the children included 175 boys and eight girls. Some of them were used as fighters and suicide bombers.

    The Army chief said the children would undergo comprehensive psychological support and rehabilitation to facilitate their reintegration into the society.

    He also reiterated the Army’s commitment to end insurgency and protect human rights.

    The United Nations (UN) Humanitarian Coordinator to Nigeria, Mr. Edward Kallon, said the UN welcomed the release of the 183 child-suspects.

    Kallon, represented by Ibrahim Cecee, noted that the release followed clearance of the children, aged between 7 and 18, of ties with the insurgents.

    He said: “The eight girls and 175 boys are victims of the ongoing conflict and their release is an important step on their road to recovery.

    “We will work with the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and partners, to provide the children with the assistance they need.

    “I hail the military for its action, which shows a commitment to better protect children affected by the conflict.”

    Kallon added that the children would receive medical attention and psychosocial support before they would be reunited with their families and reintegration into society.

    According to him, the organisation had supported the social and economic reintegration of more than 8,700 children released from armed groups since 2017.

    Governor Kashim Shettima lauded the military for the gesture and successes recorded in the counter-insurgency campaign.

    Shettima, who was represented by Commissioner for Women Affairs Fanta Baba-Shehu, admonished the children to pay attention to what they would learn to enable them become responsible citizens.

  • Boko Haram: UNICEF hails release of 180 children from custody

    United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has applauded the release of 183 children from the custody of the Nigerian Armed Forces in Maiduguri, Borno State.

    The released children, aged 7-18, were cleared of ties with the Boko Haram insurgents.

    The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, in a statement on Monday, said assured Borno State of the agency’s assistance.

    He said: “These eight girls and 175 boys are first and foremost victims of the ongoing conflict and their release is an important step on their long road to recovery.

    “We will be working with the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and partners to provide the children with all the assistance they need. I also want to commend the action taken by the military and the authorities. It demonstrates a clear commitment to better protect children affected by the conflict.”

    “Having been held in administrative custody, the children will receive medical attention and psychosocial support before the process of reuniting them with their families and reintegrating them into society begins.”

  • UNICEF calls for increase in stakeholders commitment to issues affecting children

    The United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has called for increased commitment of stakeholders in Niger, including families and communities, to issues affecting children.

    Dr Zakari Adam, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Kaduna, said on Wednesday in Minna during mid-year review meeting on UNICEF activities in Niger, that such commitment was necessary to ensure healthy development of children in the state.

    “We are calling on stakeholders to improve their commitment especially at family, community levels.

    “We need their support and commitment in areas we are having challenges such as understanding the population of the state and halting traditional practice by families towards children.

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    “A situation where children who are supposed to be in school are roaming the street begging because most parents refused to enroll them in school due to some traditional belief or practice, should be discouraged ,” he said.

    Adams appealed to Niger government to treat children issues using its domestic resources before seeking for external support.

    “The international environment is not favourable in terms of fund mobilisation for UNICEF, this is why we need the cooperation of government and relevant stakeholders in the state ” he added.

    The official urged the media to back up UNICEF efforts by providing necessary information to change the perspectives of families and parents concerning children.

    The objective of the meeting was to review the progress made in the implementation of  2018 work plan, and agree on priority activities in the next six months.

    It will also review the implementation of plans on early child enrollment, routine immunisation, child feeding and hygiene and prevention of violence against children.

    NAN

  • UNICEF seeks education for one million girls

    The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) hopes to attract additional one million girls in the north to school under its Girl Education Project 3 (GEP) phase 3.

    UNICEF’s Education Specialist Azuka Menkiti spoke at a two-day media dialogue on Girls for Girls (G4G) Initiative, organised by the Child Rights’ Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) in Gusau, Zamfara State.

    The G4G project is a component of the Girls’ Education Project (GEP) phase 3 being implemented in Bauchi, Katsina and Zamfara States.

    According to her, about 15,303 girls have been enrolled under the project in the three states.

    About 4,339 of the girls are from Zamfara, a state with the poorest enrolment rate.

    She said UNICEF is targeting to retain girls who have been enrolled in schools in the north in class.

    Menkiti said: “Within the Girls Education Project 3, the goal is to bring additional one million girls to school. We also hope to create an environment where girls will be supported to live above the poverty line for themselves and for their communities.

    “This programme is to look for those who are in schools and ensure they remain there. In the last six months that this initiative started, a lot of changes have happened in schools.

    “Our target is to have an increase in demand and support for girls’ education, increased retention for girls in schools, enhance self appreciation and self esteem for girls and increase transition of girls from lower primary to higher primary.

    “The G4G addresses demand barriers to girls’ education by affecting attitudes and barriers that keep girls out of school. It assumes that increased demand for and understanding/value of basic education by parents, financial support to parents will have positive impact on girls’ enrolment.”

    “Now we have 15,303 girls who have been enrolled in 813 G4G groups in 300 schools across 18 councils in three states. For us, it is about helping these girls to remain in school and complete at least primary education.”

  • FG calls for girl-child empowerment through education

    The Federal Government has called for empowerment of the girl child in the country through education.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made the call at a two-day media dialogue on Girls for Girls (G4G) Initiative organised by the Child Rights Information Bureau (CRIB) of the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in collaboration with the United Nations Children Fund’s, (UNICEF), in Gusau, Zamfara state capital, on Monday.

    The minister, who was represented by the Principal Information Officer in the ministry, Zira Nagga, called for more collaboration with state governments and other stakeholders to increase enrollment of girls in schools in the north.

    Mohammed commended UNICEF for its interventions in the north and called for more partnership with stake governments to increase access to basic education in the region.

    The G4G project is a component of the Girls’ Education Project (GEP) phase 3 being implemented in three state of Bauchi, Katsina and Zamfara.

    The minister said: “We all know that the Girl 4 Girl Initiative is a component of the Girls’ Education Project (GEP-4) phase 3 being implemented in northern Nigeria to help support girls remain in school and improve their learning achievement and we have been a part of this Programme through this media dialogue.

    “There is need to appreciate that some progress has been made in this bid but a lot still needs to be done considering the fact that a large number of girl children are yet to be captured in this Programme.

    “It is worthy to note that girls are very important part of our society and indeed a high percentage of success in developmental processes in any society could be associated to them because of the peculiar place they occupy in the homes and the role they play in the society at large.

    “This position buttresses the need to ensure that they are empowered, especially through education.

    “I wish to commend UNICEF and all other partners for their partnership with the Federal and state government of Nigeria and for their support in ensuring that basic education is brought to the girl child in northern Nigeria.”

    Executive Director, Life Helpers Initiative, a nongovernmental organisation, Tayo Fatinikun, said the G4G project have led to the enrollment of about 4,099 girls in schools in Zamfara state.

    Mr. Fatinikun, in his presentation, said the 4,099 girls enrollment rate was spread across 100 schools in six selected Local Government Areas in the state.

    He also said about 960 girls out of the figure had been trained on social, vocational and health related issues.

    Mr. Fatinikun said: “Zamfara is one of the educationally disadvantaged state of the federation with a very poor and low enrollment, retention level and strong disparity between boys and girls enrollment.

    “Our targets are the children, women of reproductive age, youth and community structures. Some communities are very volatile and so there is need for the government to provide security in schools.

    “Low infrastructural development is another threat to the education of the girl child and so there is need to provide conducive learning facilities for the girls.”

  • UNICEF demands govt interventions to end infant mortality, child marriage 

    The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) at the weekend called for government’s interventions to tackle the problems of high infant mortality, underage marriage, children’s malnutrition and other child-related challenges in Bayelsa State.

    The UNICEF Chief of Field Services, Dr. Annefrida Kisesa-Mkusa, spoke in Yenagoa, during the policy dialogue with state executive and legislature on “Investment in maternal nutrition and infant and young child feeding”.

    Quoting recent data at the event organised by the Bayelsa State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with UNICEF, Kisesa-Mkusa said the infant mortality in Bayelsa state was still very high.

    She said the date contained in the 2016/2017 report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that out of every 1,000 babies born, almost 100 die before the age of five years.

    She also said  over 10 per cent of female children in the state were married off before the age of 15.

    The UNICEF boss said: “Available evidence shows that getting the right nutrients at the right time is critical, particularly during the first 1,000 days of life starting from conception to the child’s second birthday.

    “Unfortunately, during the last decade, Bayelsa State has made little progress in improving the nutrition status of children and women as well as in other key child survival indicators.

    “Three in 10 women deliver their babies at home and are not delivering their babies with assistance of skilled personnel. Bayelsa State has stagnated at this rate since 2007.

    “One in five (18 per cent) of girls of between 15 and 19 years have begun child bearing. Three in 10 (29 per cent) babies born in Bayelsa State face the high risk of dying in their first month of life (27-28 days of birth).

    “Infant mortality (probability of dying between birth and the first birthday) reduced from 102/1,000 in 2011 to 57/1,000 in 2016/2017, but it is still unacceptably high.

    “Under 5 mortality in Bayelsa has been reduced from 178/1,000 to 95/1,000 live but this means that for every 1,000 babies born, almost 100 die before the age of five years. The average for the South-South region is 59. Bayelsa still carries the highest burden for this indicator.”

    Kisesa-Mkusa added that seven in every 10 children of between 12 and 23 months could not receive all the vaccinations recommended in the national schedule by second birthday including polio and measles.

    She noted that Bayelsa was the worst performing state in the region in terms of immunisation coverage, adding that from 16 per cent in 2007, coverage was at 23.3 per cent in 2011 and in 2016/2017 was at 28.5 per cent.

    Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu said the government was desirous of ensuring food security in the state, but identified fragmentation in budget planning as a major problem.

    Etebu said the best his ministry could do was to intervene, which might not be enough,  as there is a need to tackle the problem from the grassroots.

    Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Dr. Ebi Joshua said malnutrition in children was a global problem, especially in developing countries, noting that the state was doing its best to ameliorate the problem.

    The commissioner said: “The government believes in this fact and has set out to adopt as well as implement plans at its terminal focus in governance.

    “The government has consistently invested massively in the health sector which in turn calls for serious commitment from development partners especially the UNICEF.”

    He, however, commended UNICEF’s consistency in supporting the state government towards providing for the citizens.

     

  • Borno govt. commends UNICEF for rehabilitating 166 health facilities

    The Borno Government on Sunday commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for rehabilitating   166 healthcare  centres across the state.

    Sule Mele, The Executive Director of Primary Health Care Management Board (PHCMB), made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Maiduguri.

    Male said that the centres were some of those vandalised by Boko Haram insurgents.

    He commended UNICEF for providing enabling working environment, state of art facilities, logistics as well as stipend for ad-hoc staff who work in the centres.

    The director explained that the organisation had also constructed additional buildings in some of the healthcentres with a view to providing   effective anti-natal care for expectant mothers.

    He listed some of the centres to include Mashamari PHC, Ngala, Banki, Zannari IDPs clinic, Njimtilo, Mairi, Bulabulin, Gwange, I, II and III, Gamboru, 505 Housing Estate, Jiddari Polo, Konduga, Auno and Yerwa.

    “UNICEF is one of the first organisation that came to support the government at the beginning of the insurgency, by providing clinics in the IDPs camps.

    “The UNICEF’s collaboration with the state government has helped to ameliorate the multiple health challenges being faced.

    “They support us with drugs and commodities and also logistics as well as engagement of some ad-hoc staff to run the  facilities in Intrrnally Displaced Persons camps and liberated areas” he said.

    Mele added that UNICEF was also committed to imminisation, social mobilisation, and supplementary campaigns against disease outbreaks in the state.

    “It was as the result of this strong collaboration that we are able to take primary health care services beyond the rural communities  to the IDPs, and areas that are compromised, by providing makeshift clinics.

    “A lot has also  been achieved in Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), leading to the drastic reduction of malnourished children in the affected communities.”  (NAN)

  • Yellow fever gets WHO’s, partners’ attention

    About a billion persons will be vaccinated against yellow fever in 27 high-risk African countries by 2026 with the support from World Health organisation (WHO); Gavi-the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and more than 50 health partners.

    The commitment is part of the Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE) in Africa strategy, which was launched by WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus,  Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, and partners at a regional meeting in Abuja.

    According to WHO Director-General, Dr Ghebreyesus, “the world is facing an increased risk of Yellow fever outbreak and Africa is particularly vulnerable. “With one injection we can protect a person for life against this dangerous pathogen. This unprecedented commitment by countries will ensure that by 2026 Africa is free of Yellow fever epidemics,” Dr Ghebreyesus said.

    During the three-day EYE strategy regional launch meeting representatives from key African countries, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and other partners developed a roadmap on how to roll-out the strategy at national level. This implementation effort follows the endorsement of the strategy by African Ministers of Health at the 67th WHO regional committee in September 2017.

    “This comprehensive, global strategy offers an unprecedented opportunity to end the devastating Yellow fever epidemics that periodically impact Africa,” said Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “Ensuring that the most vulnerable communities have access to the vaccine through routine systems plays a central role in making this happens. Vaccine manufacturers and Gavi partners have worked hard to improve the global vaccine supply situation in recent years to make sure there is enough vaccine to respond to outbreaks, allow preventive campaigns and that routine immunisation functions at full capacity.”

    The three objectives of the strategy include protecting at-risk populations through preventive mass vaccination campaigns and routine immunisation programmes, preventing international spread, and containing outbreaks rapidly. Developing strong surveillance with robust laboratory networks is key to these efforts.

    UNICEF will make vaccines available, advocate for greater political commitment and provide support in vaccinating children through routine immunisation as well as during outbreaks of the disease.

    “Today, the threat of yellow fever looms larger than ever before, especially for thousands of children across Africa,” said Stefan Peterson, UNICEF’s Chief of Health, adding: “Given that almost half of the people to be vaccinated are children under 15 years of age, this campaign is critical to saving children’s lives, and would go a long way towards stamping out of this disease.”

    After outbreaks of Yellow fever in densely populated cities in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo had caused 400 deaths in 2016, the acute viral haemorrhagic disease re-emerged as a serious global public health threat. Brazil is currently battling its worst outbreak of Yellow fever in decades with more than 1,000 confirmed cases. The ease and speed of population movements, rapid urbanisation and a resurgence of mosquitoes due to global warming, have significantly increased the risk of urban outbreaks with international spread.

    Experience in West Africa demonstrates that the EYE strategy can work. When Yellow fever re-emerged as a public health issue in the early 2000s, countries in the region controlled the epidemics through preventive mass campaigns combined with routine immunisation. No yellow fever epidemics have been recorded since in countries which successfully implemented this approach.