UNICEF Calls for $15 Million to Improve Quality of Life in Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara States
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara states will require $15 million to enhance the quality of life for their citizens.
UNICEF’s representative in Nigeria, Christian Munduate, made this statement during a briefing in Gusau on Wednesday, following an interactive session with stakeholders from Gidanwada Model Primary School in Bungudu Local Government Area.
Munduate highlighted the urgent need for the governors of these three states to provide matching grants to address the pressing socioeconomic challenges facing their populations. She expressed particular concern over the high rates of malnutrition among children and nursing mothers in the region.
“Children, mothers, and all Nigerians deserve access to quality education, healthcare, and nutrition,” Munduate stated. She also pointed to open defecation as a major contributor to disease outbreaks, which could undermine the progress made in fighting polio in the states.
She called on the three states to collaborate with partners and stakeholders to address these critical issues and improve living conditions. In addition, Munduate emphasized that a strong partnership with local stakeholders was necessary to meet the needs of children, mothers, and the broader population in these states.
Munduate further shared that there are currently an estimated 5.5 million severely malnourished children in northern Nigeria, and more than 40 million Nigerians practice open defecation. She stressed that these challenges must be tackled urgently to prevent further health crises.
On a positive note, UNICEF has supported the establishment of 50 functional Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs) in collaboration with both the Federal and Zamfara state governments. Munduate expressed confidence that the centers would continue to serve the communities effectively with ongoing technical support from UNICEF to ensure their sustainability.
