- tasks media to hold governors, stakeholders to account
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
United Nations Children’s Fund has praised Zamfara State for its recent increase in health funding from four percent to seven percent and for maintaining a status of zero polio cases during a press briefing at the end of a two-day visit to Zamfara State aimed at addressing the urgent challenges faced by children in the region.
UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, said this achievement is particularly significant as the state was one of the few in Nigeria still grappling with polio in 2023.
“Zamfara’s commitment to increasing its health budget from 4% to 7% is commendable,” Munduate stated.
“However, this progress must be sustained over the years to ensure that polio does not return. Achieving zero cases in one state is not enough; we need a nationwide effort to eradicate polio completely.”
Despite this success, Munduate underscored the urgent need to address severe acute malnutrition affecting approximately 250,000 children in Zamfara.
During her visit to stabilization centers for malnourished children, she said she witnessed both recovery and tragedy. “While some children are regaining their strength, others are not making it,” she lamented. “This highlights the critical need for prioritising child health in our national agenda.”
Munduate noted that Zamfara’s healthcare challenges are emblematic of broader issues facing Nigeria. “The neonatal mortality rate here stands at a distressing 42 per 1,000 live births,” she explained. “Only 21.5% of pregnant women attend the recommended antenatal visits, and just 15% of deliveries occur in health institutions.”
The representative stressed the importance of community education on child-bearing practices. She shared an encounter with a 19-year old mother of three who exemplified the challenges faced by many women in the region.
“Many mothers lack knowledge about nutrition and proper feeding practices for their children,” Munduate observed. “We need to promote awareness about diverse diets that include nutrient-rich foods beyond staples like rice.”
Munduate also highlighted significant strides made in primary healthcare within the state, where over 100 out of more than 700 healthcare centers have been renovated and equipped with support from UNICEF and the federal government. However, she stressed that more investment is necessary across all states to combat malnutrition effectively.
“Zamfara has made commendable efforts, but there is still a long way to go,” she said. “With political will and decisive leadership, we can accelerate progress.”
The UNICEF’s representative in Nigeria, issued a pressing appeal to its donors partners for over $250 million to address a severe health and nutrition crisis affecting children in Nigeria’s most vulnerable states, particularly Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
Munduate, highlighted that urgent funding is necessary to combat rising rates of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) among children.
The statistics are alarming: in Zamfara alone, 250,000 out of 1.2 million children are suffering from SAM, with one in ten at risk of death. The stunting rate among children under five in the state has reached a staggering 45.2%. Overall, nearly 5.4 million children under five in the North-West and North-East regions are facing acute malnutrition, with projections indicating an additional one million cases by April 2025.
Munduate further stressed the dire need for immediate interventions, stating that more than $100 million of the total appeal is specifically earmarked for Katsina, Sokoto, and Zamfara to enhance nutrition, health services, water and sanitation facilities (WASH), child protection, and education. These funds, she said will support essential activities such as distributing Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to treat malnourished children and vaccinating over 300,000 against measles.
Munduate added that the crisis is compounded by poor healthcare access; stating there only 15% of deliveries occur in health facilities, contributing to high neonatal mortality rates. According to her, UNICEF aims to treat 400,000 children under five suffering from SAM in Zamfara alone and improve healthcare access for two million vulnerable individuals.
She called on local and federal governments to expand healthcare services and strengthen community health programme. She urged international partners to support these initiatives to ensure effective implementation.
She said the media’s role in raising awareness about these issues is crucial as UNICEF seeks to mobilize resources and attention for Nigeria’s most vulnerable children.