The UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Ms Christian Munduate, said this at a news briefing in Gusau on Wednesday shortly after holding an interactive session with stakeholders from Gidanwada Model Primary School in Bungudu Local Government Area.

Munduate said that the governors of the three states needed to provide the matching grants to address the socio-economic challenges and provide quality life for their citizens.

She regretted the prevalence of malnourished children and nursing mothers in the three states.

She identified open defecation as a major cause of diseases capable of reversing polio epidemic to the states.

According to her, children, mothers and other Nigerians deserve quality education, healthcare and nutrition, among other critical needs.

Munduate urged the three states to collaborate with partners and stakeholders to tackle the challenges and improve the living condition of their people.

She further solicited for a strong partnership with all the stakeholders to address the needs of children, mothers and the entire people of the three states and other Nigerians.

She said that available record shows that there were at least 5.5million severe and acute malnourished children in Northern Nigeria.

She further disclosed that no fewer than 40 million Nigerians practice open defecation that constituted major causes of diseases outbreaks.

UNICEF, she said, had supported 50 Primary Healthcare Centers, in collaboration with the Federal and Zamfara Government.

“All the PHCs are functional. We believe that they can maintain them to serve the people’s needs

”We will be around to provide technical support to ensure sustainability,” Munduate said. (NAN)