UNICEF Commends Gombe State for Healthcare Milestones
By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has lauded the progress in healthcare delivery in Gombe State, particularly improvements in child immunisation and a reduction in infant mortality rates.
Speaking during the 2024 UNICEF activity review and strategic planning session held in Gombe over the weekend, the UNICEF Chief Officer from the Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, applauded the state’s efforts.
“The percentage of immunised children has risen from 30 percent to 59 percent, significantly contributing to reduced infant mortality,” she noted.
Dr. Rafique called on all tiers of government to prioritise child welfare, emphasising the long-term societal impact of malnutrition. “Malnourishment can cause irreversible brain damage in children, resulting in unproductive adults—a major loss for society.
This is not a battle UNICEF can fight alone. State, local, and federal governments, along with individual efforts, must play their part,” she urged.
She commended Gombe State for its commitment to the nutrition fund, highlighting the importance of resource mobilisation. “Educating women on proper childcare is not enough. We must ensure the resources to enable real change are accessible,” she said.
Looking to the future, Dr. Rafique outlined UNICEF’s 2025 plans to adopt a multi-sectoral approach, focusing on birth registration, immunisation, nutrition, education, hygiene, and overall child welfare.
However, she expressed concern over the growing number of malnourished children in the northeastern states of Nigeria, including Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Plateau, and Taraba.
“The child nutrition situation in these states is alarming. High child poverty rates and food insecurity are driving malnutrition to unprecedented levels,” she remarked.
She underscored the importance of breastfeeding in combating malnutrition but lamented the low rate of breastfeeding in the region.
“Breast milk, a vital and cost-free resource, is denied to many children. Only 27 percent of women in these states breastfeed their babies,” Dr. Rafique revealed, attributing the issue to widespread poverty affecting maternal nutrition.
“For mothers to produce healthy breast milk, they must themselves be well-nourished,” she concluded, urging for stronger interventions to address maternal and child health challenges in the region.
