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Tag: UNICEF

  • UNICEF moves to tackle polio vaccine myths in Bauchi

    UNICEF moves to tackle polio vaccine myths in Bauchi

    Despite years of mass immunisation campaigns and growing awareness, polio vaccine rejection however remains a troubling concern among some fathers in Bauchi State.

    But, the United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, is actively addressing polio vaccine myths to improve immunization coverage and reduce the number of “zero-dose” children in Bauchi State, Nigeria. 

    This effort includes strengthening community outreach.

    Speaking in an interview with journalists in Katagum, Salisu Haruna, a father of 28, one of the skeptics of the polio vaccination said for four years, he refused to allow his children to be vaccinated, fearing the vaccine could cause infertility or harm. But after repeated engagement by health workers, he changed his mind—and now champions the campaign.

    “I used to think the vaccine would harm my children,” Haruna admitted. “But since they got it, they’ve been stronger. I now tell other fathers to support it.”

    Still, not everyone has followed suit. In Itas-Gadau, 27-year-old Bashir Ahmed refused to vaccinate his two children, citing his upbringing and doubts fueled by lack of religious approval.

    He later allowed the vaccination after persistent advocacy from health officials and support from the United Nations Children Funds, UNICEF—but remains undecided about future doses.

    In another case, a father permitted only three out of four of his children to be vaccinated. Health workers had to return several times to persuade him to vaccinate the last child.

    In an interview with journalists in Katagum local government area, UNICEF Health Specialist, Dr. David Audu, said the turn out for polio vaccination has been positive, adding that there  was only   resistance in a few places. 

    He, however, said the resistance is slowly giving way to acceptance. 

    According to him, UNICEF is supporting a network of local advocates, including Village Community Mobilizers (VCMs) and members of the Front-line Family Health Groups (FFGH), to engage directly with communities. 

    “These advocates play a crucial role in raising awareness and addressing concerns within their local areas.” he said 

    The campaigns are designed to reach every caregiver and child, ensuring that they understand the benefits of vaccination.”

    Speaking also in an interval with journalists in the Nasarawa community in Itas Gadau Local Government, a village head,  Bano Usamatu  said his community in Nasarawa no longer battles vaccine rejection.

    “The era of rejection is gone. We want to save the future of our children,” he told our correspondent, crediting UNICEF and the state government for their support.

    Meanwhile, UNICEF recently reported a milestone in Azare LGA, where 51 Quranic schools and 95 churches participated in the latest round of vaccinations. Of 842 non-compliant households, 503 were successfully engaged in just two days.

    The agency remains focused on reaching children in high-risk, zero-dose communities and continues to partner with civil society groups to build trust and awareness.

  • UNICEF boosts immunization in Imo with 425 solar-powered refrigerators

    UNICEF boosts immunization in Imo with 425 solar-powered refrigerators

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has made a significant contribution to immunization efforts in Imo State by distributing 425 solar-powered refrigerators since 2021.

    These solar-powered refrigerators play a crucial role in maintaining the cold chain; ensuring vaccines remain effective and potent. By leveraging solar energy, these refrigerators provide a reliable and sustainable solution for vaccine storage, reducing dependence on traditional power sources.

    UNICEF’s Vaccine Security Logistics Officer in the state, Augustine Nwabuisi, stressed this while addressing newsmen in Owerri said this initiative aims to strengthen vaccine storage and delivery in the state, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

     As part of activities marking the World Immunisation Week,  Nwabuisi highlighted that the refrigerators, which retain a temperature of between +2 to +8 would help to maintain the potency of vaccines used for immunisation in the state.

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    Nwabuisi also said that the refrigerators, used for storage of vaccines, were procured and distributed by UNICEF to primary healthcare facilities across the 27 LGAs of the state.

    He added that the Fund operates an Open Logistics Information System for real time monitoring of stock adequacy of vaccines per LGA.

     This, he said, was to prevent both overstocking and understocking of vaccines as well as monitor the expiry date and temperature exposure of vaccines at the LGA level.

    According to him, UNICEF also donated four incinerators with the capacity to burn up to the rate of 1000 degrees Celsius for proper, healthy disposal of bottles and syringes to safeguard the environment.

     “ We insist on ‘do no harm’ to the vaccine, environment and health workers, by ensuring adequate service delivery of vaccines and proper waste management.

      “ UNICEF has built the capacity of officers through regular monthly training where we do analysis of the work done and give real time feedback to managers at the lower levels “, he said.

    He, however, called on the state government for counterpart funding for the provision of human resources for optimal utilization of the incinerators especially.

     Speaking, the state’s  Immunisation Officer, Dr Chibuzo Anyaehie, commended UNICEF for funding the logistics for the introduction of the HPV vaccine and supporting rounds one to three of the Big Catchup immunisation.

     Anyaehie added that UNICEF provides technical support for vaccine security in the state while developing annual operational plans for vaccine delivery and immunisation.

     She, however, called for the replacement of retirees in the state’s workforce to address the paucity of manpower necessary for vaccine delivery and other logistic challenges.

  • Funding cuts leave 15 children unvaccinated, say UNICEF, WHO

    Funding cuts leave 15 children unvaccinated, say UNICEF, WHO

    Funding cuts to global health has left no fewer than 15 million vulnerable children unvaccinated, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have said.

    The international bodies said the situation has led to upsurge in preventable diseases with pressure on countries to bear the cost of funding their health challenges.

    The Health Specialist, UNICEC Field Office, Enugu, Dr. Olusoji Akinleye, said this while presenting a paper at a two-day Media Dialogue on 2025 World Immunisation Week with the theme: ‘Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible’.

    The programme organised by UNICEF Enugu Field Office in collaboration with Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA) covered the 12 states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross River, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Delta, Imo and Kogi.

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    Presenting a paper on “‘Immunisation for all is humanly possible’- Availability” at the event, Akinleye said the health sector is stretched with lots of challenges, saying: “I would like to talk of the shrinking funding support to immunisation and the entire health spectrum…

    “At the same time, the number of children missing routine immunisations has increased in recent time.”

    In 2023, Akinleye said an estimated 40.5 million children missed all of their routine vaccine doses.

    “That’s an increase upfront, that’s from 13.9 million in 2022 and 4.9 million in 2019. In other words, we are having an increasing population of children who did not have immunisation.

    “Over half of these children live in countries facing conflicts and instability where access to basic health services is disrupted and by the way, Nigeria falls into this category,” he said.

    Quoting the Executive Director of UNICEF, Cathrine Russel, Akinleye said: “The global funding crisis is severely limiting our ability to vaccinate about 15 million vulnerable children in fragile and vulnerable countries against measles… immunisation services and disease surveillance in almost 50 countries are already being disrupted,” he said.

  • World immunisation week: UNICEF holds media dialogue in 12 states to bolster vaccinations

    World immunisation week: UNICEF holds media dialogue in 12 states to bolster vaccinations

    As part of the activities to commemorate the 2025 World Immunisation Week (WIW), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Enugu Field Office, in collaboration with the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia, has organised a two-day virtual Multi-Zonal Media Dialogue for journalists and stakeholders to boost vaccines uptake and immunisation in the country.

    The media dialogue, moderated by Dr Ijeoma Onuoha-Ogwe, Communications Officer, UNICEF, Enugu, held between Thursday and Friday with scores of journalists, health practitioners and other relevant stakeholders across 12 states in attendance virtually.

    The 12 states within the Enugu Field Office area of responsibility (AoR) captured in the programme with the theme: ‘Immunization for All is Humanly Possible’, are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross river, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Rivers, Delta, Imo and Kogi.                                                                                        In her presentation, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe, Chief of Field Office UNICEF, Enugu, said the dialogue would foster discourse that would help promote and provide quality immunisation services to everyone, especially the children.

    Chiluwe said: ‘Today kick-starts the WIW commemoration across the world and UNICEF joins efforts with health care providers and governments to promote the values of immunisation services as should, which entails getting to the last mile.

    “UNICEF uses this opportunity to emphasise that vaccines are proof that less disease, more life is possible when we put our minds to it. It’s time to show the world that ‘Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible’.

    “Vaccines remain one of humanity’s greatest achievements and over the last 50 years, essential vaccines have saved at least 154 million lives. That’s six lives a minute, every day, for five decades.

    “In 2025, as we approach WIW 2025, themed, “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible”, it’s essential to underscore the continued relevance of this global observance. The theme reaffirms the feasibility and necessity of protecting everyone, from newborns to the elderly, against vaccine-preventable diseases, through inclusive and equitable immunisation services.

    “In all these years UNICEF, in partnership with the media as a reliable ally and other development partners, continued to provide strategic and operational support in the following areas: Advocacy, Communication, and Social Mobilisation (ACSM); Logistics and Cold Chain Support: Infrastructure —strengthening such as establishment of oxygen gas plants to strengthen health systems in states and routine immunisation support.”

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    She commended the contributions from state governments that compliment UNICEF’s efforts in these areas and urge that they do not relent in this partnership but build momentum on progress made so far by continuing to provide budgetary allocations to ensure we get to the last mile where every eligible child gets lifesaving vaccines to survive and reach their full potential.

    In his address, the Director General, Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA), Mr. Francis Nwubani, said UNICEF had been at the vanguard of advocating for the welfare of women and children and BCA had over the years appreciated partnering with UNICEF to achieve great results.

    Nwubani said the WIW that is celebrated in the last week of April, aims to promote the life-saving power of immunisation to protect people of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases. 

    He restated that vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest achievements, noting that since 1974, vaccines have saved over 154 million lives – that’s more than 3 million lives a year or six people every minute for five decades.

    Nwubani stated: “In the same period, vaccination has reduced infant deaths by 40%, and more children now live to see their first birthday and beyond than at any other time in human history. Statistics reveal that measles vaccines alone accounts for 60% of those lives saved.

    “More lives are now being saved, among people of all ages, with more recent vaccines against malaria, Human Papillomavirus, cholera, meningitis, RSV, Ebola and mpox, reflecting an era of massive scientific advancements in vaccine development and delivery.  

    “Every new child born deserves the benefit of these vaccines, yet millions still miss out each year.  To ensure that the immunisation successes of the past 50 years are built on in the coming decades, this year’s theme, “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible” aims to continue the “Humanly Possible” campaign with a future forward look on the importance of ensuring more people, especially children, are vaccinated.

    “As 2025 is the mid-point in the Immunisation Agenda 2030, World Immunisation Week will look at not only what immunisation does to improve lives today but what immunisation can achieve in the coming decades as more children are reached with essential immunisations and new and newer vaccines are developed to cover a broader range of diseases and ages.”

  • UNICEF targets 4.1 million children for polio vaccination in Kano

    UNICEF targets 4.1 million children for polio vaccination in Kano

    …18 cases confirmed in 9 states 

    United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has targeted 4.1 million children aged below 15 months for the upcoming polio vaccination exercise.

    This was made known during a media dialogue organised by UNICEF in collaboration with the Kano state government, through the Primary

    Healthcare Management Board.

    The meeting sought to solicit media support in raising awareness and mobilizing parents, caregivers,

    communities, stakeholders and the general public of the polio vaccination campaign scheduled to implement from 24-30 April, which coincides with the World Immunization Week.

    The Chief of UNICEF field Office Kano, Rahma Rihood Mohammed Farah, described polio as a highly infectious disease with potentially deadly consequences and the leading cause of paralysis and death among children.

    Farah, represented by Michael Banda, UNICEF’s Senior Education Manager and Officer-in-Charge of Kano Field Office, urged the media to deploy their various channels to share the right information about the polio vaccination campaign, which will help in bringing out the targeted children for vaccination during the period.

    He confirmed outbreak of polio virus in 18 local government areas in nine states and blamed it on low vaccination rates.

    “In 2025, 18 cases of polio have been reported in 18 LGAs in nine states of Nigeria.

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    “Three of these polio cases are in Warawa, Bunkure and Nassarawa LGAs of Kano State. This is unacceptable and must be halted!,” he said.

    UNICEF called on all states in Nigeria to take urgent action to stop polio outbreaks and to reach all children with polio and other life-saving vaccines.

    It particularly called on Kano State government to declare a State of Emergency on Polio and Routine Immunization including a commitment to timely release of adequate state counterpart funding for Routine Immunization and polio vaccination campaigns.

    “If children get vaccinated routinely, there will be no need for vaccination campaigns to deal with vaccine-preventable diseases,” Farah said.

    Representative of the Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Hajia Saadatu Ibrahim, identified hard-to-reach settlements, missing houses and children with zero-dose vaccination as challenges of routine immunization.

    She however insisted that this year’s exercise would have been Nigeria’s last opportunity to end polio transmission, if good execution is prioritized.

    She gave two strategies of eradicating polio, which include detection (polio surveillance) and response (routine immunization and supplementary immunization).

    “What’s missing is high quality execution, accountability, and urgency. Now is the time for all partners -government, traditional leaders, and organizations to fully commit and deliver results,” she said.

  • Jigawa records two new polio cases after a decade of being virus-free — UNICEF

    Jigawa records two new polio cases after a decade of being virus-free — UNICEF

    Two new cases of polio have been confirmed in Hadejia and Suletankarkar Local Government Areas of Jigawa State, marking a setback after nearly a decade of being declared polio-free.

    The disclosure was made by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) during a media dialogue on polio and routine immunisation held in Dutse, the state capital.

    Speaking on behalf of UNICEF Kano Chief Field Officer Mr. Rahama Rihood Farah, Health Manager, Dr. Serekeberehan Seyoum Deres warned that polio remains a highly contagious disease with severe consequences, including paralysis and death among young children.

    Deres highlighted that although over 3 billion people have been vaccinated against polio globally since 1988, the fight against the disease is far from over due to low vaccination rates in some regions.

    “In 2025 alone, 18 cases of polio have been reported across 18 local government areas in nine states in Nigeria,” he noted, calling for renewed efforts in vaccination and surveillance to prevent further outbreaks.

    “Two (2) of these polio cases are in Hadejia and Sule Tankarkar LGAs of Jigawa state. This is unacceptable and must be halted Polio knows no boundaries and spreads fast an outbreak in any country puts children in every country at risk”.

    The chief field officer maintained: “In the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved 154 million lives that is six people every minute, for five decades. Together, we have made incredible progress. Simply by being immunized, you help to protect others from the spread of disease, just as they help to protect you.We can stop outbreaks and eradicate polio”.

    “Ending polio and improving children’s survival starts with making sure all children have access to vaccines. UNICEF calls on the Jigawa state government, and indeed all states in Nigeria, to take urgent action to stop polio outbreaks and to reach all children with polio and other life-saving vaccines”.

    He said UNICEF requests Jigawa State government to declares a State of Emergency on Polio and Routine Immunization including a commitment to release state counterpart funding for polio and routine Immunization, 27 local government councils’ chairmen in the state to make similar commitments, and conduct flag-offs of the upcoming polio vaccination campaign and commit to releasing counterpart funding.

    Serekeberehan Seyoum noted that UNICEF in collaboration with the Jigawa state government through the Primary Healthcare Development Agency has convened this media dialogue to solicit the support of the media in raising awareness and mobilising parents, caregivers, communities, stakeholders, the public and everyone, about the Polio Vaccination Campaign which Nigeria has scheduled to implement from 24-30 April 2025.

    UNICEF emphasis that Media must regularly disseminate through their platforms accurate information to help fight myths, disinformation and rumors which misinform and discourage people from taking opportunities to vaccinate children.

    “If children get vaccinated routinely, we will have no need for vaccination campaigns to deal with vaccine-preventable diseases. To eradicate polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases, Nigeria must strengthen its Routine Immunization efforts. This requires full implementation of the One functional Primary Healthcare Centre per ward Policy. If we strengthen our Routine Immunization, we can realize a future free from diseases like polio, cervical cancer and measles.”

    Farah stated further that as the global community is focusing attention on human papillomavirus during the World Immunization Week, and UNICEF urges the government and decision makers in Nigeria to also focus attention on and invest in vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes cervical cancer.

    “We can realise a future free from vaccine-preventable diseases like polio, cervical cancer and measles. A future where no child dies from illnesses that we know how to prevent – because Vaccines are available, safe and effective!”.

    Speaking over the development the executive secretary Jigawa state Primary Healthcare Development Agency PHCDA, Dr Sambo through director primary healthcare services, Dr Hassan Shu’aibu Kwalam said the state has came up and adopted new strategies to re-eliminates the disease in the state.

    According to him the state government through the agency a massive immunization exercise to be lunched all over the state by tomorrow Wednesday targeted to immunizes all eligibles children in the state.

    The director explained that a high level meeting with traditional and religious leaders under the chairmanship of the chairman of Polio enlightenment campaign committee and Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Muhammad Hamim Nuhu to redesigned where the Emir of Hadejia and Gumel, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Make and Alhaji Ahmed Muhammed Sani and review the hole (polio) immunization exercise in Hadejia.

    Dr Hassan Shu’aibu Kwalam explained that there is a massive immunization exercise plan to kick off 24th of this month to last for six days where through the period over 3060 teams of three people per each team to be despatches across 287 political wards in 27 local government areas to vaccinate all eligible children.

    He said: “The agency received over two million dosage of vaccine to be admitted to the targeted 1.9 million children”.

    “In an effort to achieve 100 percent coverage about 50,000 adhoc staff had been recruited which includes people to administer the vaccine, recorders, supervisors at three different levels such as at teams, wards, local government area zones and state levels.

    Also speaking the programme manager, State Emergency Routine Immunisation Coordination Centre (SERICC ), Dr Shehu Ibrahim said, “A total of 1.9m os targeted to immunizes against the polio disease in the forthcoming polio immunisation exercise to be conducted a cross 27 local government areas of the state”.

    Dr Shehu Ibrahim described non-compliance which in most cases emanating from political attribution in vaccine exercise leading to missing some children from recieving the vaccine a situation that exposing them and endangering other to the virus.

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    He expressed concern on political attraction to polio and routing immunization where in some cases rejecting the vaccine for a political reason remains a serious challenge in achieving the targeted children in the state, “what is the relationship with water supply and routing immunization?”. 

    According to him, “In February 2025 immunisation exercise a total of seven children were missed in Garki, Kaugama and Maigatari Local Government area “

    He said, state government has introduced various measures to ensure no single child is left behind during the upcoming immunisation campaign.

    He added that immunisation teams would be deployed to markets and boarders to ensure full coverage and to ensure no zero child is recorded.

  • UNICEF, media rally support to eliminate polio in Katsina

    UNICEF, media rally support to eliminate polio in Katsina

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), through its Kano zonal office,has rallied media support to eliminate Polio Virus attacks in Katsina state

    The UNICEF rally was convened through a strategic media dialogue session which brought together media practitioners from across the region to galvanise support for the upcoming National Polio Immunisation round slated for April 24 to 30.

    Dr. Kharan Singh, Head of Nutrition and acting Chief of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, at the event emphasised that routine immunisation remains the backbone of polio eradication efforts.

    He said: “Until we achieve and sustain over 95% coverage, the risk persists. The vaccine is safe, effective, and essential”

    ”Routine immunisation ensures no child is left behind,” the media must play a proactive role in building vaccine confidence and dispelling misinformation”

    ”Despite significant progress, challenges such as parental reluctance and circulating myths continue to threaten eradication goals”

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    Singh urged media outlets to strengthen partnerships with religious leaders, health authorities, and local influencers to deliver culturally sensitive and factual messages that resonate with communities

    Dr. Shamsuddeen Yahaya, Executive Secretary of the Katsina State Primary Health Care Development Agency, announced a shift from house to house vaccination to public, community based administration to boost transparency and curb malpractice such as fake finger marking. 

    He further reiterated that health workers found negligent or non compliant would be sanctioned.

    He said:“We have reinforced our accountability systems to ensure that no child is missed,”

    ”To strengthen oversight, the state has deployed over 3,700 independent monitors including retired health professionals, teachers, and NYSC members across all local government areas”

     Shamsuddeen also noted that Katsina has 1,636 fully functional health facilities, well equipped with trained personnel and solar-powered cold chain systems to ensure vaccine quality and timely distribution.

    During the dialogue, Hajia Sahura Muhammad, the State Immunisation Officer and GOC Immunisation Polio, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the status of polio in Katsina. She outlined the state’s immunisation performance, current challenges, and the importance of sustained community engagement and media support to reach every eligible child.

  • Katsina, UNICEF seal three-year children, women’s health pact

    Katsina, UNICEF seal three-year children, women’s health pact

    The Katsina State Government and the United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have signed a multi-year work plan (MYWP) covering 2025 to 2027.

    UNICEF field officer, Kano Field Office,Mr. Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah, who spoke on behalf of Dr. Sereke Seyoum Deres, Health Manager at UNICEF, expressed the agency’s commitment to build a more inclusive future for the youth and Women 

    He said: “This work plan is more than a document — it’s a shared commitment to build a brighter, healthier, and more inclusive future for every child in Katsina State,” 

    Farah also  lauded Governor Radda’s administration for its proactive investment in children-centered initiatives, including the groundbreaking Hadaka and MCH-Track programs. 

    He called on the government to further deepen its financial commitments to key sectors such as health, nutrition, education, WASH, and child protection.

    Highlighting some other urgent concerns, UNICEF stressed the need to eliminate polio in Katsina by 2025, tackle the rise in out-of-school children, and accelerate efforts to declare the state Open Defecation Free — a move that would make Katsina only the second state in Nigeria to achieve such status.

    Farah also urged the government to prioritize a universal child grant scheme and enact a strong social protection framework through the launch of its State Development Plan and approved social protection policy.

    He said ”As we sign this plan today, we are not just setting goals — we are making a promise to every child in Katsina that they will not be left behind,” 

    Radda reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to child welfare, expressing gratitude to UNICEF for its continued support and partnership in driving sustainable development in Katsina State.

  • UNICEF, NOA, Imo community step up fight against FGM

    UNICEF, NOA, Imo community step up fight against FGM

    The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has intensified efforts to combat Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

    The Imo State Director NOA, Mrs. StellaMaris Demian-Igwe disclosed that they were working tirelessly and collaboratively with UNICEF, so as to eliminate the obnoxious practice.

    She  added that the rights and privileges  of the girl child must be protected and all hands must be on deck, so as to make the same a reality.

    According to her, “We must  rise and counter the ugly narratives of abuse of the rights of girls and women in our society.”

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    Maris observed that the obnoxious practice comprises all procedures that involve altering or injuring the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognised internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

    Demian-Igwe stressed that the non-medical practice reflects deep-rooted inequality between the sexes and constitutes an extreme form of discrimination against women and girls.

    She added that the practice violates their rights to health, security and physical integrity; their right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment as well as their right to life when the procedure results in death. She, therefore, called for attitudinal change.

    She explained that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration promotes the abandonment of FGM with coordinated and systematic efforts.

    Through the Agency, Demian-Igwe said, the Federal Government engaged the grassroots communities and focused on human rights and gender equality. These efforts, she noted, emphasises societal dialogue and the empowerment of communities to act collectively to end the practice.

    She praised the Federal Government for addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls who suffer from its consequences.

    The State Director hinted that the agency was working with relevant stakeholders, the media and community groups with the Organised Private Sector and partners to directly tackle consequences of FGM. The Director subsequently called for an end to the obnoxious act to protect the rights of girls and women.

    Speaking, a stakeholder and community leader in Obowo Local Government Area, Nze Lawson Mbakwe stressed that some communities in the area have embarked on sensitization of the rural populace which led to the near elimination of the practice within the various communities.

    According to him, the council has set up a mechanism to ensure the populace desists from this obnoxious practice.

    He said that the State government had domesticated the law, emphasizing that ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

    Mbakwe said that anyone operating outside the armpit of the law in this respect must face the full weight of the law.

    In his contribution,  a youth leader in the area, Morrison Iwu advised Nigerians against pressing or massaging a baby girl’s genitalia with vaseline, saying the practice was considered a harmful traditional practice.

     He explained the various forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence with emphasis on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), particularly the disturbing trend of Type IV FGM: Unclassified.

    “This includes harmful procedures like piercing the clitoris, cauterization, cutting the vagina, and using corrosive substances,” he stated.

    He pointed out that there was now a shift from traditional cutting to alternative methods, emphasising the need for awareness and action.

    He explained that although touching the female genitalia with vaseline did not involve any form of cutting or bloodshed, it was still considered as FGM.

    “Any practice done to that area for non-medical purposes is seen as mutilation and a violation of the fundamental human rights of girls and women”.

    A representative of the local government, Hon. Mark urged survivors to speak out against this practice, stressing that survivors could lead the campaign effectively, and drawing from their personal experiences.

    He urged youths, particularly those who have survived Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), to join the Youth Anti-FGM Network in the state. By doing so, they’ll have access to a wealth of resources and capacity-building opportunities that will support their anti-FGM campaigns in their communities.

  • Cholera crisis: UNICEF, Bayelsa raise concern over alarming rate of open defecation

    Cholera crisis: UNICEF, Bayelsa raise concern over alarming rate of open defecation

    •Say only 40% of riverine residents have access to clean water

    As the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Bayelsa State government intervene to prevent and fight cholera outbreaks, they have lamented that 60 per cent of communities in the state practice open defecation while only 40 per cent of riverine residents have access to clean water.

    They made this known yesterday during a two-day media dialogue on Bayelsa State’s 2025 ‘Cholera Response and Tractive Messaging on UNICEF/Government’s Joint Health Intervention’, which was held in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    In his remarks, the Chief Field Officer, UNICEF, Port Harcourt, Dr. Anslem Audu, said the theme of the event reflected their proactive and strategic approach to addressing cholera outbreaks, which have continued to pose significant health risks in many vulnerable communities.

    Audu said: “Cholera, as we know, is preventable. Yet, year after year, we face outbreaks that claim lives, disrupt livelihoods, and strain our already fragile healthcare systems.

    “Through this dialogue, we aim to equip the media with accurate information, effective tools, and the right messaging strategies to support Bayelsa State’s cholera preparedness and response plan. Beyond cholera, we will also discuss ongoing joint interventions between UNICEF and the government in critical and disease prevention areas such as immunisation, maternal and child health, water and sanitation and disease prevention.

    “Our goal is clear: we want to break the cycle of cholera outbreaks and other preventable diseases by promoting sustainable health practices, improving access to clean water and sanitation, and ensuring that every child and every family can thrive in a safe and healthy environment.

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    “Achieving this goal requires a collective effort. The media, as a bridge between policymakers, health practitioners, and the public, plays an essential role in creating awareness and encouraging communities to take preventive actions.

    “It is through your stories, reports, and messages that we can inspire positive behavioural change, dispel harmful myths, and build trust in health interventions.”

    In his opening remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Bayelsa State, Professor Seiyefa Brisibe, represented by the Director of Public Health in the ministry, Dr. Jones Stow, said the two-day media dialogue was not just another meeting, it was a critical step in their collective fight against cholera, a disease that thrives on inequality, poor sanitation, and misinformation.

    Speaking on ‘The Cholera Crisis in Bayelsa: A Deeper Look’, Brisibe said as of February 2025, the state had recorded 942 suspected diarrhea cases, across five high-risk LGAs: Southern ljaw, Ekeremor, Sagbama, Nembe, and Ogbia.

    He said behind those numbers were real lives — families who have lost loved ones, children hospitalized for preventable illness, and communities paralysed by fear.

    The health commissioner stated: “The roots of this outbreak are stark — 60% of affected communities still practice open defecation due to a 75% gap in proper toilet facilities.

    “Only 40% of riverine residents have access to clean water, forcing reliance on contaminated streams.

    “Late reporting and harmful home remedies have led to avoidable deaths. Yet, there is hope. Our coordinated response with UNICEF and WHO has ensured: zero facility-based deaths — proof that timely medical care saves lives.”

    He noted that the Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) were reaching remote villages like Oporomor and Peremabiri with ORS and water purification tablets.

    Speaking on the significance of the dialogue, he asserted that Cholera is not just a health issue — it is a communication emergency, saying that in communities where rumours spread faster than facts, the role of the media practitioners is life-saving.”