The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has been commended for championing the cause of women and children, thereby promoting family health and well-being through its various interventions in Bauchi State.
The commendation was given by the District Head of Toro, Alhaji Umar Adamu, when he received a team from the Country Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Abuja, led by the Deputy Country Representative, Programme, Dr Rownak Khan.
The traditional ruler praised UNICEF for its support of women and children in the area, stressing that the nutrition initiative has significantly improved the lives of women and their children.
According to him, “Here in Toro LGA, because our women have embraced the nutrition initiative, we have healthy children and mothers who are engaging in exclusive breastfeeding of the children.”
He added, “We engaged in serious advocacy and sensitisation meetings before we got to the stage we are now. Without the cooperation of the women, we would not be here. The women have been supportive and cooperative of the initiative.”
The Katukan Bauchi also stated that the issue of open defecation has been tackled, making the entire LGA open defecation free (ODF), and added that efforts have been intensified to ensure that this status is maintained.
He further commended the women in Toro LGA of Bauchi State for supporting the initiative and campaign for adequate nutritional attention to children in their first 1,000 days.
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In her brief remarks, the UNICEF Deputy Country Representative, Programme, Dr Rownak Khan, said that she was in Bauchi to witness firsthand the significant progress made in child nutrition and immunisation.
Rownak Khan commended the traditional ruler for the role he has played, and continues to play, in improving family health and safe motherhood, stating that these are key focuses of UNICEF.
She emphasised the need for traditional institutions to be involved in issues concerning women’s and children’s health because, according to her, they are major components of society.
The UNICEF Deputy Country Representative, Programme, assured that the organisation will continue to provide technical support to the state in the implementation of its various interventions.
Also speaking, the Chief of Field Office (CFO), UNICEF Bauchi Field Office (BFO), Dr Nuzhat Rafique, urged the District Head to advocate to his colleagues the need for traditional institutions to support the programme for the promotion of women’s and children’s health.
Nuzhat Rafique stated that UNICEF is impressed with the impact of the nutrition initiatives in Toro LGA, stressing that the area is regarded as the Nutrition Champion in the state.
The UNICEF Nutrition Officer, Philomena Irene, also commended the traditional ruler for supporting the initiative, which has improved the health of women and children.
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