S/S challenged by malnutrition, immunization and basic amenities ―UNICEF

The United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) has said that states in the South-South geo-political zone still have major challenges in water coverage, sanitation, immunization coverage, reducing malnutrition and stunting.

UNICEF itemised the challenges at the annual review meeting of the Rivers Field Office, held in Yenagoa.

He noted that the malaise was as a result of the difficult terrains, inadequate budget by states and frequent strike actions.

Others include delay in the release of counterpart funding, lack of political will as other major restraints affecting UNICEF and its state’s partners from covering the states under review.

Wilbroad Ngambi, Chief of field office, said out of the states under the Rivers Field office, Akwa Ibom, has a stunting level for children less than five years with an index not lower than 29 percentages.

He said, “I think the south-south still have the major challenges in water coverage, sanitation, immunization coverage, reducing malnutrition and stunting.

“Some of the states like Akwa Ibom also have stunting level for children less than five years as high as 29%. Out of every 100 children, 30 are stunted, that is they are shorter than they should be
at their age.

“So we acknowledge that states has done a lot of work to improve the situation, there is a lot of work yet to be done both in nutrition, water and sanitation, even in maternal child health.”

Speaking on the meeting, Ngambi, said, “the review is basically an annual meeting of the states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta coming together to take stock  of what we have done together for women and children in the south-south of Nigeria for the year 2017.

‘’We have programs for immunization, nutrition, promotion of exclusive breast feeding for children, improving infants and young child feeding, addressing malnutrition and stunting’’.

He, however, noted the body have programmed for Water Sanitation and hygiene, some states have been able to support UNICEF to construct water and sanitation facilities, and its targeted to reach more than
150, 000 people with safe water.”