By Amina Samuel, Kaduna
The Nigerian Government has strengthened its partnership with UNICEF to promote child rights, deliver life-saving humanitarian aid, and enhance systems in health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation (WASH), child protection, and social policy.
In a statement released to the press, UNICEF said its focus remains on improving child and maternal health by tackling high mortality rates, malnutrition, and low vaccination coverage.
Key priorities include combating acute malnutrition, reducing maternal and child deaths, expanding access to education, protecting children, increasing access to clean water and sanitation, and providing technical support for social protection and public finance. Special attention is being given to children in conflict-affected areas.
UNICEF’s operations include distributing vaccines for polio and measles, strengthening cold chain systems, and delivering primary healthcare to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities.
Through its WASH programme, UNICEF aims to reduce child deaths from diarrhoea by improving access to safe, sustainable water and sanitation services. Efforts focus on ending open defecation, promoting hand hygiene, and deploying climate-resilient water systems in communities, schools, and health centres.
Other interventions include building and rehabilitating water systems to provide safe water in communities and schools, particularly in response to cholera outbreaks.
