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Tag: UNICEF

  • UNICEF seeks Child Rights Act adoption by states

    ·FCT, Kano mark day with campaigns to end violence against children

    UNICEF has called for the adoption of the Child Rights Act in all  states in the country.

    It made the call in a message during the Children’s Day at the weekend.

    At the moment, only 24 states have adopted the Act.

    With this year’s theme: Child protection and the Sustainable Development Goals, it urged Nigerians to heed the President’s call to end violence against children, noting that millions of children suffer physical, emotional or sexual violence.

    According to a 2014 survey by the National Population Commission, with support from UNICEF and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, six out of 10 children experience at least one of these violence before they reach 18.

    “Each one of us is responsible for creating a world where children feel safe, protected and empowered to speak up for themselves,” said Mohamed Fall, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, using Nigerian Children’s Day as an opportunity to highlight the prevalence of violence against children in the country and measures needed to address it.

    “In line with the Sustainable Development Goal to end all forms of violence against children by 2030, Nigeria has launched a Campaign to End Violence Against Children by 2030, which reinforces the Presidential call to end such violence first made in September 2015. Since 2015, Lagos, Cross River, Benue and Plateau states have launched state-wide campaigns.

    ‘’The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Kano State marked the day by launching their campaigns to end violence against children; Gombe State will launch its version on June 7. To drive the implementation of the national campaign, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is working with key government partners, civil society and faith-based organisations to develop a National Plan of Action that will set targets and milestones to end violence against children in Nigeria by 2030,” it was learnt.

    UNICEF praised Nigeria’s national and state governments’ efforts to reduce violence and exploitation of children, saying it has recognised Nigeria as a Global Pathfinder in the battle to combat violence against children.

    Nigeria adopted the National Child Rights Act in 2003 to domesticate the international Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, so far, Child Rights Acts have been passed in only 24 states, with Enugu being the most recent to enact the law in last December.

    “We call on the state assemblies of the remaining 12 states to urgently pass Child Rights bills and on governors to sign those bills into law. We also call on governors of the 29 states who have not yet launched state-level campaigns to end violence against children to do so. And even while we increase our commitments to protect children’s rights,” said Mohamed Fall,’’ he said, adding: “We must work even harder to make these rights a reality for children in Nigeria.”

     

  • Tambuwal incorporates religious groups to support fight against polio

    Tambuwal incorporates religious groups to support fight against polio

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal has incorporated the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as part of the Task Force to support the fight against polio in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this came to the fore on Sunday, in Bodinga town, Bodinga Local Government Area of the state at the commencement of the immunisation plus days.

    Speaking at the event, the governor announced the formation of an expanded high powered task force, made up of leadership of JNI and CAN.

    He said that the committee will ensure the massive mobilisation of all persons resident in the state, towards the success of the exercise.

    He said,”my administration is committed in ensuring that the successes recorded in the fight against polio and other killer-diseases are not reversed.”

    Tambuwal further called on stakeholders not to relent until the country was free from the dreaded polio virus.

    Tambuwal said,” the Sokoto State Government has committed huge sums of money for the renovation of hospitals, construction of staff houses, as well as provision of basic medical equipment to Primary Healthcare Centres.

    “This is to enable them provide qualitative primary and secondary health care services to the people.

    “We will also continue to renovate our health facilities and construct some additional primary health centers for equitable distribution of facilities in all areas where there are none.”

    Tambuwal also directed all the 23 local government areas to provide all needed support towards the success of the exercise.

    The governor also inaugurated the task force on polio immunisation and implementation in all the 23 LGAs with each council chairman serving as head.

    In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the Magajin Rafin Sokoto, Alhaji Rilwanu Bello, called on all district heads to be fully involved in the immunisation drive.

    In their separate remarks, representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, Rotary International and national primary Healthcare Development Agency, reiterated their determination to ensure that Nigeria is free from the wild polio virus (WPV).

    On his part, the state commissioner of health, Dr. Balarabe Kakale called on all communities to take precautionary measures on the impending risk of Gastro enteritis, especially as the raining season is about to set in.

    He also appealed to people to maintain personal and environmental hygiene, adding that the ministry will continue to discharge its duties effectively.

    Other members of the task force announced by the governor include development partners, women groups, heads of security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, labour leaders, political officers, student groups, members of the civil societies, among others.

  • Sokoto, UNICEF agree on N2.8b 2017 work plan

    The Sokoto State government and United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have signed a joint annual work plan worth N2.8 billion.

    The work plan will cover sectors, such as health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, and is meant to accelerate the realisation of the right of all children and women to survival, development, protection and participation.

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal said the government had fulfilled its part of the agreement by paying its N1.7 billion counterpart funding.

    According to him, UNICEF’s intervention in critical areas has helped to improve the people’s lives. He said the government was committed to the execution of the annual work plan, and promised its full implementation.

    UNICEF’s Country Representative Muhammad Fall said the partnership was the most outstanding at the state level in Nigeria.

    He lauded Tambuwal for providing the highest allocation to education in the 2016 and 2017 budgets, noting that the 28 per cent was beyond UNESCO’s required standard.

  • Nigeria requires $85.5m to treat malnourished children – UNICEF

    Nigeria requires $85.5m to treat malnourished children – UNICEF

    The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) on Wednesday said Nigeria requires $85.5 million to address malnutrition of about two million children in dire need of treatment.

    UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Bauchi Zone, Mrs. Philomena Irene, disclosed this at a media dialogue held on Wednesday in Yola, Adamawa, with the theme: “Investing in Child’s Malnutrition for the Future.”

    Irene noted that the treatment of a malnourished child with Ready-To-Use-Therapeutic-Food (RUTF) would span through eight to 12 weeks, depending on the severity of the condition.

    According to her, at least $71 will adequately treat a severely acute malnourished child.

    She said out of the 2.5 million malnourished children in the country only 500,000 have so far been treated.

    The nutritionist said the interventions provided by UNICEF include prevention and treatment.

    According to her, the collaborative efforts of government agencies will go a long way to address the existing nutrition gap of two million children in dire need of special interventions including RUTF.

    “Malnutrition is an emergency that required multi-sectoral approach and collaborative efforts of government and donor agencies, among others.

    “No child should be left to die and government at all levels should act by setting aside budget line geared toward the purchase of RUTF and other nutrition interventions.

    “There should be specific budget line at the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, Education and Budget and National Planning, among others, and timely releases of such funds.

    “With these efforts the burden would be reduced drastically,” Irene said.

     

     

  • Water scarcity affects women’s contributions to national development

    Women for Development, an NGO, on Wednesday says the lack of water has greater impact on women and girls, thereby affecting their contributions to national development.

    The group’s Spokesperson, Mrs. Abigail Emenike, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the lack of water also challenged women’s quest to actualise their potential in their chosen careers.

    According to her, Nigeria should begin to put policies in place to ensure that access to water in rural and urban areas are scaled up to lessen the hardships being encountered by females.

    Emenike said increasing access to water for women and girls had greater advantage, saying access to water would give females healthy lives, reduce infant deaths and improve living conditions.

    She added that although many water-borne sicknesses were treatable and preventable, they were, however, leading causes of death in under-five children globally.

    She noted that the Joint Monitoring Programme of WHO and UNICEF had reported that no fewer than 2.2 million people die annually from diarrhea-related diseases globally.

    Emenike said 50 per cent of hospitalisations of this category of people were as a result of water-related diseases.

    “Infants and children are especially susceptible to water-borne diseases because of their young immune systems, thereby increasing infant mortality rates in many parts of Nigeria.

    “Water scarcity, therefore, has a big impact on hygiene.”

    The organisation’s spokesperson said the lack of water also impacts on individual’s contribution to the nation’s productivity, stressing that economic resources were sapped by the cost of medicine to treat diseases.

    She explained that 12 per cent of the health budget of Sub-Saharan countries, Nigeria inclusive, was used to treat diarrhea due to consumption of unsafe water and poor hygiene practices.

    Emenike, who specifically emphasised the impact of the lack of water on girls, said they trek long distances to get water sources, thereby leaving only little time to pursue their education.

    She said “it is saddening to note that most schools’ toilets lack water and separate toilets for girls to manage their menstrual hygiene.”

    “It’s been recorded that a large number of school girls stay away from school when they are on their monthly period.

    “Often, school buildings lack gendered toilet facilities, meaning menstruating girls face another challenge to have to deal with their periods in shared, unsanitary toilets or miss school for a few days every month.

    ‘‘This is capable of fueling lower attendance rate at school, which can vastly affect their prospects for the future.”

    She, therefore, called for improved hygiene and campaigns in health centres and access to water facilities.

    She asserted that new mothers needed safe and sterile conditions to properly take care for their babies.

    “This is because babies born in unhygienic conditions are six times more likely to die in the first few weeks of their life than those born in clean environments.

    ‘‘Nigeria needs to act now so as to avoid deaths and illnesses from preventable sources.”

    NAN reports that Women For Development has been in the forefront of advocacy and awareness creation toward increasing access to water and sanitation.

     

  • Kaduna trains health workers to eradicate malnutrition

    The Kaduna State Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) has commenced train-the-trainer programme to eradicate malnutrition in the state, an official has said.

    Hajiya Ummi El-Rufa’i, wife to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, disclosed this at the flag-off of the training programme for some selected health personnel in Zaria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is entitled: “Training on Community Management of Acute Malnutrition: Training of Trainers (TOT)”.

    The governor’s wife, who was represented by Alhaji Shehu Usman-Muhammad, a member of KADENAP, said the workshop was aimed at improving the quality of health workers’ service in the management of malnutrition.

    “It is specifically organised to train-the-trainers for them to train others in their various local governments and zones.

    “It provides an opportunity to bring participants together from all over the state and best 20 will be selected to become trainers in the management of malnutrition in primary and secondary facilities,” she said.

    The governor’s wife said the personnel were drawn from state and federal health agencies and training institutions.

    She identified management of malnutrition as a critical element toward ensuring healthy future generation.

    The governor’s wife said she was motivated to be part of the crusade following a UNICEF study which showed high rate of malnutrition in the state.

    She said both her and the governor saw the report and felt so bad.

    “The children are malnourished not because of lack of food but because of ignorance, culture, food preparation and management.

    “We took it upon ourselves to change the trend and to give a sense of hope to our future generation,” she said.

    Hajiya Hauwwa Usman, Assistant State Nutrition Officer, Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said the workshop was meant to proffer solution to acute malnutrition.

    She said at the end of the training they want to get trainers who would train others on malnutrition at Community Management Adequate Malnutrition centres at various local government levels across the state.

    “We want to eradicate malnutrition in Kaduna State. To achieve that, we need to train our workers on how to go about the eradication process.

    “It is through this kind of training that the health personnel will be trained for the benefit of others,” she said.

    A cross section of participants interviewed by NAN expressed appreciation for the training and pledged to impart the knowledge acquired on others to achieve the set goals.

    NAN reports that about 69 health personnel were selected from the 23 local government areas of the state.

     

  • UNICEF donates N47m to improve hygiene in Sokoto

    The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has donated N47 million to the Sokoto State Government to boost sanitation and hygiene.

    Mr Mohammed Mohiuddin, the Chief of the Field Office, Sokoto, announced the donation during a sensitisation programme for traditional leaders and local government councils’ chairmen on Friday in Sokoto.

    Mohiuddin said that the money was provided to support the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Sustainable Development Goal – Six (SDG-6) emphasises provision of clean water and sanitation for the populace.

    The UNICEF official explained that the donation entailed provision of technical assistance through procurement, contract, management, implementation and monitoring of water supply and sanitation infrastructure in rural areas.

    According to him, the aim is to work with government in accelerating access to water and sanitation for all people in the state.

    He recalled that the state government had begun the mission of achieving the Sustainable Development SDG-6 by 2030.

    He said that the donation was therefore aimed at encouraging the state to intensify efforts at achieving that goal in record time.

    “UNICEF has also been working with the Rural Water and Sanitation Agency for the implementation of community-led total sanitation model.

    “This is being done in 122 communities to be certified as open defecation free in Tangaza Local Government Area of the state,’’ he said.

    He said that the Fund had supported the state to provide access to safe water in 30 communities in the local government through rehabilitation of 44 water facilities.

    “The Fund has also developed a system for water safety planning, household water treatment and hygiene promotion aimed at improving health outcomes.

    “UNICEF also supports the state government in other areas of maternal and child health, nutrition, polio and basic education.

    “It also helps in social protection through conditional cash transfer to poor families and communication for development among others.’’

    Mohiuddin advised the state government to scale up the WASH model interventions to cover other local governments through increased funding.

  • UNICEF: Thousands of refugee children live ‘in limbo’

    An estimated 24,600 refugee children are “living in limbo” waiting to join their families in Western Europe, UNICEF said on Thursday in New York.

    The organisation said that single mothers and children were among the nearly 75,000 refugees and migrants stranded in Greece, Bulgaria, Hungary and the Western Balkan Country.

    According to Afshan Khan, the UNICEF Regional Director and Special Coordinator for the Refugees and Migrant Crisis in Europe, the family reunification process is slow, and its outcome is uncertain.

    “This uncertainty can cause significant emotional distress and anxiety for children and families, setting them back for years to come,” Khan added.

    The organisation said that the migrants were waiting to find out when and whether or not they could join their male relatives, who had gone ahead of them to the EU countries, the organisation said in a statement.

    “We are seeing single mothers and children stranded in Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria, who have not seen their husbands and fathers for months or even years”.

    According to UNICEF, the reunification requests can take between ten months and two years to be processed and the EU countries have varying policies on whether or not to allow asylum seekers to join their families.

    UNICEF recalled that nearly 5,000 family reunification requests were made from Greece in 2016, 700 of which were from unaccompanied and separated children.

    The organisation added that 1,107 successful applicants reached their destination countries by the end of the year.

     

  • Oyo lauds UNICEF’s initiatives

    Oyo State Commissioner for Education-Science and Technology, Prof Adeniyi Olowofela, has praised the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for changing the educational landscape of the state and making it a role model in the country.

    UNICEF, through her invaluable support to the state, has ensured significant improvement in education service delivery.

    Olowofela gave this commendation while declaring open a three-day training workshop organised for inspectors of education by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in collaboration with UNICEF .

    He stated that the essence of retraining education inspectors is to transform the era of witch hunting and fault finding practices to a more acceptable result-oriented and friendly evaluation.

    According to him , Oyo State government has taken measures to restore the lost glory of education by abolishing automatic promotion, reconstructing state-of-the-art model schools, rehabilitating 100 schools across the 33 councils, and establishing school governing boards ( SGB) to ensure improvement in schools’ management .

    He is happy that UNICEF is associated with quality, credibility, and standard-raising.

    Olowofela also charged the trainees to use the experience gained in discharging their duties.

    In his response, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF SURE, Mr Tejinder Sandhu, expressed appreciation to the state government for her feat in the education.

    He stated that UNICEF wants to use Oyo State as a model for other states of the federation.

    Sandhu pledged UNICEF support in partnering with the state to improve education.

  • Oyo commends UNICEF for changing education sector

    Oyo commends UNICEF for changing education sector

    Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, has commended the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for changing the educational status of the state and making the state a role model for other states in the country.

    UNICEF, through her invaluable support to the state, has ensured significant improvement in education service delivery.

    The state commissioner for education gave this commendation while declaring open a three-day training workshop organised for inspectors of education by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in collaboration with UNICEF at the weekend.

    Olowofela stated that the essence of the training and retraining education inspectors is to transform the era of witch-hunting and fault-finding practices to a more acceptable result-oriented and friendly evaluation.

    According to him, the Ajimobi-led administration has taken proactive measures to restore the lost glory of the education sector by abolishing automatic promotion, reconstructing state of the art model schools, rehabilitating one hundred secondary schools across the thirty-three local government areas and establishing School Governing Boards (SGB) to ensure improvement in schools’ management.

    He appreciated the immeasurable contributions of UNICEF, stressing that the organisation itself is associated with quality, credibility, and standard raising. Olowofela also charged the inspectors to use the experience gained in discharging their duties.

    In his response, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF SURE, Mr Tejinder Sandhu, commended Governor Abiola Ajimobi for transforming the education sector in the state.

    He stated that UNICEF wants to use Oyo State as a model for other states of the federation.

    Sandhu further pledged the support of the organisation in taking the education sector to greater heights