1 week Ago By Our Reporters
Faith Maji The United Nations Children’s Fund has lamented the continuous presence of the polio virus in Katsina State, emphasising that it would work closely with the state government to prioritise its eradication in 2025. Chief of UNICEF Field Office Kano, Mr Rahama Fara, stated this on Thursday during the signing of the UNICEF-Katsina State Multi-year Work Plan 2025-2027 at Government House Chamber, Katsina. Farah, represented by the Health Manager , UNICEF Field Office Kano, Dr Sereke Deres, said the virus remains a significant threat to children’s health across the State .
He said efforts must be made in 2025, using resources to mobilise communities, raise awareness, and ensure every nook and cranny of the state is reached so that parents can be encouraged to vaccinate their children. “As we speak today, the polio virus remains a significant threat to children’s health in Katsina State. “Eradicating polio must be our top priority in 2025.
We must dedicate all our efforts and resources to mobilising communities, raising awareness, and ensuring that every corner of Katsina is reached so that parents are encouraged to vaccinate their children. “The Katsina State Government must take the lead at the wards, district, and local government levels to address vaccine refusals. “It is essential to secure the full engagement of LGA chairpersons, community leaders, and religious leaders, holding them accountable for ensuring that every child in Katsina is vaccinated.
“UNICEF urges the government to leverage its own resources, explore public-private partnerships, and strengthen community-based initiatives to ensure no child is left behind,” he said. He also called on the state government to increase the allocation of domestic resources to critical sectors of health, nutrition, WASH, child protection, and social protection. He said prioritising investment in these sectors would enable the state to build resilient systems that are less dependent on external funding and more responsive to the needs of the people .
For his part, the Katsina State Governor , Dikko Radda, gave the assurance that his administration would work closely with UNICEF to prioritise eradicating polio in the state , noting that a N500 million counterpart fund was released last year for UNICEF activities in the state . He emphasised that the state government would continue to provide counterpart funding, adding, “We will do the best we can to ensure the success and implementation of the multi-year work plan.” Copyright PUNCH All rights reserved.
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