Sokoto – Sokoto State Government and 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 on Friday at the closing of a two-day media dialogue on malnutrition tagged “Good Nutrition, invest more, stop Child malnutrition Nigeria.’’
The dialogue was jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and the fund and drew participants from media outfits across the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agreement covers nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene.
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).
“This is the fund’s contribution to the attainment of the state and by extension, the national development aspirations.
“This is geared towards the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other internationally agreed development frameworks,’’ Mohiuddin, who was represented by Mr Paul Mudzongo, a Nutrition Specialist, said.
According to the UNICEF official, malnutrition remains a public health problem in Nigeria, with the northern part of the country `bitterly hit’ compared to the southern part. (NAN)
