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Tag: UNICEF

  • Boko Haram: EU, UNICEF to train teachers on emergency preparedness

    To protect learning environment in the country, the European Union (EU) and the United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) have concluded arrangement to train teachers on how to identify risk and the steps to take.

    Since the start of insurgency in the North East in 2009, Boko Haram has killed more than 611 teachers and about 19,000 educators have fled from the violence.

    The Conflict and Disaster Risk Reduction campaign in schools is part of a specially designed intervention funded by the EU.

    The 18 -month project not only supports children affected by the Boko Haram violence by helping them access education and protection services, it also develops detailed plans with communities so schools can offer safer learning environments.

    The programme is expected to address the complex nature of the crisis across Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria.

    Reducing the vulnerability of school systems in this emergency is a key part of the multi -sectoral response that draws on expertise from education and child protection specialists. In conflict situations, the education sector is vulnerable to violence and insecurity, so it is a particularly relevant area for Conflict and Disaster Risk Reduction.

    One important aspect of the initiative is to train teachers to identify risks and to develop emergency preparedness and response plans together with the community child protection focal points to reduce the danger for children in an area where bomb explosions, armed attacks and abduction remain a constant threat.

    According to UNICEF, the programme is a multi -country effort to protect children and teachers from the effects of conflict.

    “With 1.3 million children displaced in this crisis, it is imperative to support schools so parents can get their children back in the classroom,” said Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa.

    “Ensuring access to education for crisis affected children is important, however opening schools is not enough. Children and teachers need to be equipped with knowledge and skills, to be prepared and able to mitigate the effects of something dangerous happening around the school premises.”

     

  • Conflicts force 25m children out of school, says UNICEF

    Conflicts force 25m children out of school, says UNICEF

    No fewer than 25 million children are kept out of school by violent conflicts, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.
    UNICEF Chief of Education Josephine Bourne, said: “Conflict and violence has driven more than 25 million children between six and 15 years old – about 22 per cent of children in that age group – from schools in war zones across 22 countries.
    “At no time is education more important than in times of war. Without education, how will children reach their full potential and contribute to the future and stability of their families, communities and economies?
    “Schools also provide a safe haven to children, protecting them from risks of abuse, exploitation and recruitment by armed groups.
    “However, in numerous conflict zones around the globe, the number of children out of school is increasing dramatically.”
    According to UNICEF, at the primary school level, South Sudan has the highest rate of out-of-school children with close to 72 per cent of children missing out on education, followed by Chad (50 per cent) and Afghanistan (46 per cent).
    These three countries also account for highest rate of girls who are out of school, at 76 per cent for South Sudan, Afghanistan (55 per cent) and Chad (53 per cent).
    Similarly, at the lower-secondary level, the highest rates are in Niger (68 per cent), South Sudan (60 per cent) and the Central African Republic (55 per cent).
    UNICEF said out-of-school rates for girls spike for this age group: nearly three quarters of girls in Niger and two in three in both Afghanistan and the Central African Republic are not in school.
    To help raise awareness on the challenges that children affected and uprooted by conflict face in accessing school, UNICEF has been working with Muzoon Almellehan, a 19-year-old Syrian refugee and education activist.
    Almellehan fled the violence in her home country about four years ago with her school books as her only belongings.
    She spent nearly three years in Jordan, including 18 months in Za’atari refugee camp, where she made it her personal mission to get more girls into education, UNICEF said, noting that she went from tent to tent talking to parents to encourage them to send their children to school.
    Almellehan has travelled to areas affected by conflict, including Chad and Nigeria and spoken to children facing these challenges, UNICEF said.
    “Conflict can take away your friends, your family, your livelihood, your home. It can try to strip you of your dignity, identity, pride and hope. But it can never take away your knowledge. Meeting children in Chad who had fled Boko Haram reminded me of my own experiences in Syria. Education gave me the strength to carry on. I wouldn’t be here without it,” UNICEF quoted Almellehan as saying.
    UNICEF said it was running programes to get children back to learning, providing catch-up education and informal learning opportunities, training teachers, rehabilitating schools and distributing school furniture and supplies.
    It, however, said in spite of these efforts, funding shortfalls are affecting its efforts and only 40 per cent of the UN agency’s 2017 education funding needs in Chad have been met.

  • Malammadori LG constructs 45 toilets in schools

    The Malammadori Local Government Council of Jigawa on Saturday said it has constructed 45 pit toilets in schools to reduce open defecation and enhance sanitation among students.

    The Coordinator, Water and Sanitation programme in the council, Malam Babandi Saleh stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Malammadori.

    Saleh said that a 15-block of three improved toilets each was constructed in some selected basic and post basic schools to check open defecation.

    He explained that seven hand pumps were also provided in the schools to promote personal hygiene under its hand-wash campaign.

    Saleh disclosed that the projects were executed in collaboration with the UNICEF.

    The coordinator added that the council was also sensitizing the people on the dangers associated with open defecation.

    “We carried out awareness campaigns at different wards on the need for people to embrace personal hygiene, sanitation and promote waste management in the society”.

    According to him, the council also carried out waste and drains clearance exercise in the area to reduce cases of flooding.

    He called on members of the public to shun open defecation and keep a clean environment to protect themselves against diseases.

     

  • Kaduna to begin polio immunisation – SPHCDA

    Kaduna to begin polio immunisation – SPHCDA

    The Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), Dr Hadiza Balarabe, has implored parents to ensure that their children are vaccinated.

    This appeal was contained in a press statement jointly signed by the Deputy Director, Hamza Ikara and Coordinator, Lawal Dogara on Wednesday and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

    The statement said in order to make Kaduna State polio free, parents must give all the needed support to ensure that their kids are vaccinated.

    It said that immunisation for children of 0-5 years would begin in the state between April 22 and April 25.

    The statement reminded parents that polio vaccination in the state was still compulsory, adding that they must comply with the government order.

    The statement called on traditional rulers and religious leaders to ensure that parents, most especially in the rural areas, allow their children to be immunised.

    “The traditional rulers and religious leaders should educate their subjects and adherents respectively on the importance of allowing their kids to be vaccinated against polio and other children killer diseases,” it said.

    It said that the SPHCDA had concluded all adequate arrangements with a view to ensuring a successful conduct of the exercise in the state.

    The statement lauded the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, the State Government and stakeholders for their efforts towards the eradication of polio.

  • Number of children used for suicide attacks on the rise – UNICEF

    Number of children used for suicide attacks on the rise – UNICEF

    A new report by the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has shown an increase in the number of children used for suicide attacks by Boko Haram sect.

    According to the report, the number has increased to 27 in the first quarter of 2017, compared to nine over the same period last year.

    So far, 117 children have been used to carry out bomb attacks in public places across Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon since 2014.

    According to the statistics, four children were used in 2014, 56 in 2015, 30 in 2016 and 27 only in the first three months of 2017.

    The report also noted that girls have been used in many of these attacks.

    “In the first three months of this year, the number of children used in bomb attacks is nearly the same as the whole of last year – this is the worst possible use of children in conflict,” Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, said.

    The increase reflects an alarming tactic by the insurgents, according to the report Silent Shame: “Bringing out the voices of children caught in the Lake Chad crisis.”

    As a consequence, girls, boys and even infants have been viewed with increasing fear at markets and checkpoints, where they are thought to carry explosives.

    “These children are victims, not perpetrators,” says Poirier. “Forcing or deceiving them into committing such horrific acts is reprehensible.”

    The report which was released three years after the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, provided troubling accounts by children who were held in captivity at the hands of Boko Haram, and showed how these children are met with deep suspicion when they return to their communities.

    In interviews, many children who have been associated with Boko Haram, said they keep their experience secret because they fear the stigmatization and even violent reprisals from their community.

    Some are compelled to bear their horrors in silence as they removed themselves from other groups for fear they might be outed and stigmatized.

    The report also highlighted the challenges that local authorities face with children who have been intercepted at checkpoints and taken into administrative custody for questioning and screening, raising concerns about the prolonged periods of custody.

    In 2016, almost 1,500 children were under administrative custody in the four countries.

     

  • UNICEF hails Army for releasing Boko Haram suspects

    UNICEF hails Army for releasing Boko Haram suspects

    The United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has lauded the Army for releasing about 600 suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
    It said the Army’s action was a major step towards protecting children affected by the insurgency.
    A statement by WHO said: “It provides hope in a conflict that continues to have an enormous impact on people’s lives. These children were held under administrative custody, on alleged association with Boko Haram militants. They are victims of the conflict and it is crucial they receive medical care, psychosocial support and other basic services that will help them to regain their dignity.
    “Once that process of recovery has started, we can help them return to their families, school or learn new skills that will give them hope for the future.”
    UNICEF maintained that it will continue to work with relevant authorities to access children who are held for screening in order to safeguard their care and protection.
    “When military screening is needed, children should only be held as a measure of last resort and for the shortest time possible, in accordance with national and international standards. These children are first victims of the conflict and require support to recover from their experiences and reintegrate with their families and communities,” the statement added.

  • Meningitis: UNICEF, Borno State government in partner

    Meningitis: UNICEF, Borno State government in partner

    As part of their commitment to children’s health and wellness, United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, in conjunction with the Borno state government have come together as a measure to quell any possible outbreak of meningitis in the state.

    The Chief of Maiduguri Field Office of UNICEF Geoffrey Ijumba told journalist in Maiduguri on Sunday that UNICEF apart from being an active member of the State Task Force on Meningitis has also has supported the state to preposition over 7,000 doses of Ceftriaxone (drug for treating meningitis A) in health facilities in the state; and has placed order for more of the drug.

    Mr. Ijumba also reiterated the fact that there is not reported case or cases of any outbreak of the disease in the state.

    According to Mr. Ijumba, UNICEF is also supporting Borno state in vaccine management by ensuring adequate storage, supply and distribution of the Meningitis A vaccines currently available in the state; and is ready to support the state with adequate storage and management of Meningitis C vaccines anytime available in the state.

    “UNICEF is currently working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners to train health workers in over 100 health facilities and 42 internally displaced persons’ (IDPs) camp clinics on the accurate diagnosis and effective management of cases, using the national protocols,”  Ijumba informed.

    He further disclosed that  UNICEF is supporting with community awareness and sensitization as well as taking the  lead in the development of communication materials and jingles for airing  on radio and TV; including the  deployment of no fewer than 2,000 volunteer community mobilisers in communities for mobilization and surveillance.

     

  • UNICEF providing technical support in curbing meningitis – Official

    UNICEF providing technical support in curbing meningitis – Official

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says it is supporting the Federal Government in its efforts to tackle the current meningitis outbreak in the country.

    The UNICEF, Abuja, Communication Specialist, Ms Eva Hinds, made this known in an online interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

    She said the fund, in collaboration with other partners, was closely monitoring the situation and providing technical support in the areas of active surveillance and case management.

    She said that the support also include community sensitisation and implementation of mass vaccination campaigns in every affected local government area or ward in the epidemic or alert phase.

    “Vaccination campaigns are most effective when there is community awareness of the campaign and social mobilisation is in place to ensure optimum coverage.

    “UNICEF is helping to create guidelines for implementing preventative and reactive campaigns through community engagement and dialogues.

    “Supporting house-to-house sensitisation and mobilisation for immunisation and training healthcare workers in the affected states including Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara.

    “UNICEF is helping to set up sensitisation meetings with religious and traditional leaders, non-governmental organisations and schools, and producing and disseminating information, education and communication materials.

    “UNICEF is facilitating the procurement and distribution of the antibiotics, called Ceftriaxone, to hospitals to treat meningitis cases in the affected local government areas,’’ said the official.

    The specialist said that countries experiencing outbreaks could use the global International Coordination Group (ICG) mechanism to request delivery of high quality vaccines and antibiotics bundled with injection materials.

    According to her, this special mechanism was established in 1997 to ensure that the population most in need would receive life-saving vaccines in a timely manner.

    “The mechanism includes the careful review of country requests for vaccines for outbreak response by the ICG for meningitis.

    “In response to the current meningitis outbreak, 500,000 doses of Meningitis C vaccines have been delivered, through the ICG mechanism, to Nigeria.

    “The vaccines are being distributed to high risk wards and communities in the affected local government areas in Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Niger States as an immediate response to the outbreak.

    “Requests have also been sent to the ICG to receive vaccines for Sokoto and Katsina states. These requests are currently pending ICG approval,’’ she said.

    Hinds said that an effective coordinated response with partners contributing in the areas of their expertise was further needed to respond proactively to these types of outbreaks.

    She said, however, that as the outbreaks occurred yearly, the government had put in place emergency response and coordination structures that were systematically reactivated during the epidemics.

    “The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, with technical support from UNICEF, has also drafted the first national preparedness and response plan for meningitis.

    “The plan seeks to put into place measures to tackle future outbreaks, particularly in the states hit by yearly outbreak; the first draft of the plan is currently under review.

    “The government agencies are also working together with partners to include the meningitis vaccinations to the yearly routine vaccinations.

    “Inclusion to routine vaccinations will help to secure funding and yearly purchases of the meningitis vaccines,’’ she said.

  • Org. calls for improved sanitation, hygiene to reduce diseases

    The WaterAid, an international organisation, has called for improved access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and regular hand washing to reduce diseases especially among school children in Nigeria.

    Miss Blessing Sani, Communication and Advocacy Assistant of the organisation, made the call on Thursday in Abuja while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the organisation’s support to Nigeria on WASH services.

    “We focus on improving access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in schools.

    “We thought it best to collaborate with UNICEF, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the National Task Group on Sanitation to train teachers, specifically hygiene teachers and other school personnel.’’

    The training is “on how to encourage school children to make hand washing a habit before lunch because it is critical to reduce the spread of diseases.

    “Children play around, most times in times in school, and they touch food here and there without minding what germ is on it.

    “We thought it best to encourage the attitude of developing hand washing as a habit not just a one-off thing to commemorate the global hand washing day, but to make it a continuous thing and to make them see the importance.

    “So that when they go home, they can also teach their parents, they can also teach their neighbours on how to wash their hands because we believe hygiene is important.

    “But we focus on hand washing with soap and water. “

    On measures to ensure regular hand washing exercise, Sani said the organisation had involved the services of Local Government Health Supervisors and would train other relevant personnel to work with them.

     

    “We involved supervisors from the Local Government Areas; we also involved supervisors from schools, like hygiene teachers and even the supervisors from the Area Councils and Education Authorities in the area councils.

    “We focus on training in the 6 Area Councils of Abuja; we also collaborate with youth watch and the NYSC to be able to carry on this training.

    “We also trained them on how to use cost effective hand washing facilities like the tippy-tap.

    “So you don’t really need a lot of money to be able to construct your tap.

    “They help us to monitor them and, from time to time, give us report on such a school.

    “The whole essence is so that you can retrain and keep it going like a chain reaction; it doesn’t break.”

    .

    WaterAid is an international organization working in Nigeria to improve access to safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services especially in rural communities.

    The organization is currently working in Bauchi, Jigawa, Enugu, Benue, Plateau and Ekiti States.

  • FG dismisses Gov. Yari’s views on Meningitis being result of sins

    The Federal Government says the outbreak of ‘Type C’ form of Cerebro-spinal Meningitis (CSM) in some parts of the country has nothing to do with moral or spiritual lifestyles of Nigerians.

    The Minister of State for Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, stated this after the meeting of the Federal Executive Council, which was presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara was on Tuesday quoted as saying that the outbreak of the Cerebrospinal Meningitis ‘C’ occurred because of fornication and other sins by Nigerians.

    According to Ehanire, “The Federal Government does not have views of that nature‎ and I am not sure the state government can really continue to make that statement.

    “When things happen; yes you can begin to look at many ways for possible causes.

    “But like I said, nature played us an unfortunate stroke; that is not to say we committed sin or anything.

    “It does happen in this World that things occur out of the blues.’’

    The minister noted that there had been a very robust response of the ministry and the affected state governments in collaboration with the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Nigeria Primary Health Care Development Agencies, the World Health Organisation, UNICEF; as well as other partners.

    He allayed the fears of Nigerians about the ministry’s response on the outbreak of the virus, adding that already 500,000 doses of vaccines were being distributed to the affected states.

    He further said, “Government is also getting 826,000 units which are being shipped‎ from Europe to us within the next few days.

    “The most affected states have been Zamfara, Sokoto and Katsina and together they have about 85 per cent of the cases. As of today, there have been 2,996 cases in 16 states and 64 local governments.

    “There have been 336 fatalities of which 141 have been confirmed by laboratory tests.

    “There is reactive ‎vaccinations going on already; there is social mobilisation going on, teams are working in the affected states.

    “So in other to allay the fears of Nigerians, we want to make it clear that this is not a sign of failure of the system‎, it is a fact that nature played a very different stroke this time that caught everybody off guard.”

    He announced that two treatment centres were being set up in every local government and lumber puncture kits had also been distributed so that doctors could take samples to laboratories for testing.