By Asmau Ahmad
The Sokoto State Government and the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have signed a N2.09 billion Joint Annual Work Plan 2016 Agreement on health and education.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Balarabe Kakale, disclosed this at the closing of a two-day media dialogue on malnutrition tagged ‘Good Nutrition, invest more, stop Child malnutrition Nigeria.’
The dialogue jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and the UNICEF had drew participants from media outfits across the country.
Health Reporters reports that the agreement covers nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene.
Dr. Kakale said: “This is targeted to accelerate the realisation of the rights of all children and women to survival, development, protection and participation. The state government and the Fund are fully committed to working together to implement the agreement.”
The commissioner said the state government would contribute N1.083 billion, while UNICEF would provide N1.006 billion.
UNICEF’s Chief Field Officer in Sokoto, Mohammed Mohiuddin, said the gesture was part of the fund’s contribution to the United Nations Development Assistance Framework and its Action Plan (2014-2017), towards the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to the UNICEF official, represented by Nutrition Specialist, Mr. Paul Mudzongo, malnutrition remains a public health problem in Nigeria, with the northern part of the country `bitterly hit’ compared to the southern part.
