By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
The country representative of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Mrs Wafaa Saeed has called on Nigeria to lead the African continent in child survival and education in all the benefiting states in the country.
Saeed made the statement in Birnin Kebbi, Monday, when she paid a courtesy visit to Kebbi State governor, Dr Nasir Idris. The maiden visit since she assumed the position intends to deepen ties with Nigeria and particularly Kebbi State which is among the Fund’s beneficiaries.
She stressed that the international funds would facilitate efforts being put in place as far as intervention in critical areas like health and education where they intend to push for child protection and survival through the fight against malnutrition and out of school children.
“We commend Kebbi State Government for the huge funds it has released to stem malnutrition among children; such commitments means that Kebbi as benefiting partners is poised to join hands with UNICEF to eradicate or minimally reduced malnutrition and out of school children in the state”.
Governor Idris, represented by his deputy, Umar Abubakar Tafida, formerly welcome her team to Kebbi state and particularly thanked them for their various interventions in the state.
“We are ready to strengthen ties with UNICEF in the areas of malnutrition and out of school children which you have shown huge interest in curtailing.”
He pledged more financial and moral support to UNICEF.
Similarly, the country ‘s UNICEF chief officially launched a vaccine cold boxes room at Malaria Control Unit in Birnin Kebbi, which she donated to Kebbi State, saying the cold store will aggravate state government’s vaccination campaign drive to guarantee healthier children.
The cold room will, during vaccinations, keep them safe even as it will serve as distribution points.