he United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has pledged a total of 6.8 million U.S. dollars to support Nigeria in tackling the scourge of polio and malnutrition, the Lagos-based Daily Independent newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Ann Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director, who ended a four-day visit to the country on Monday, was in northern Nigeria's Sokoto and Kebbi states to dialogue with government officials and religious leaders on child survival strategies.
She described the government's commitment to saving lives of Nigerian children as sincere, noting that there is still a strong need to educate the families on importance of good nutrition.
She also spoke of the need to provide support to promote adequate nutrition in every home.
According to Veneman, Nigeria remains the only country in Africa still harboring the wild polio virus and one of the four in the world that is spreading the deadly virus.
She said the UN agency is committed to allocate 1.8 million dollars to support improvement in nutrition programs and five million dollars for strengthening polio eradication initiatives in the endemic states of the country.
The UNICEF director promised to ensure prompt release of the money, which would specifically be used to scale up integrated community-based nutrition stations where families can bring their children for preventative and curative assistance.
Veneman expressed regrets that lack of essential health services, malnutrition, inadequate access to clean water and basic sanitation contribute to high rate of child mortality being experienced in Nigeria.
She expresses confidence that with close cooperation among stakeholders, including governments at all levels, religious leaders and traditional rulers, the country has a bright hope to surmount the challenges of malnutrition.
na wa oh, everyday oyibo go dey release billions of dollars 4 our own wahala. d funniest part be sey out of dat big money wey u write like dat, only 2 million go reach our polio brodas n sistas. Quote moi
Posted: at 8-08-2009 01:37 PM (14 years ago) | Upcoming
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