Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: UNICEF

  • Katsina, UNICEF move to count Almajiri and Islamiya pupils—planning bigger education reforms

    Katsina, UNICEF move to count Almajiri and Islamiya pupils—planning bigger education reforms

    Photo Credit: Independent
    2025-12-28 09:00:00

    Figures cited by PUNCH show Katsina State is partnering with UNICEF to conduct a census of Almajiri and Islamiya schools, aiming to establish accurate data for education planning and child-welfare support.

    Officials say the exercise will map enrolment patterns, school distribution, and gaps that have long complicated targeted interventions.

    The initiative is expected to feed into reforms on basic education delivery and social support for vulnerable pupils.

    The Guardian quoted the bureau describing the exercise as “the first step to building a better future.”

    Echotitbits take: Data is the doorway to smarter budgeting—especially for welfare-linked education. Watch whether census outputs become a live registry tied to school feeding, health checks, and conditional support for families.

    Source: Independent — June 27, 2025 (https://independent.ng/unicef-katsina-govt-set-to-count-almajiri-islamiya-schools/)

    Independent June 27, 2025

    UNICEF, Katsina  Govt Set  To Count Almajiri, Islamiya Schools

  • Polio cases drop sharply in Kano, Katsina as eradication push intensifies

    Polio cases drop sharply in Kano, Katsina as eradication push intensifies

    An illustration depicting a particle of the polio virus – New York Times
    2025-12-14

    According to The Punch, Nigeria’s polio-response managers say reported circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases have fallen, with Kano and Katsina recording the biggest declines, even as officials warn outbreaks can rebound if immunisation gaps persist.

    The update was presented during a National Economic Council (NEC) review, where officials linked the improvement to intensified campaigns, tighter monitoring and stronger coordination in high-risk areas.

    State House reporting on the same NEC meeting referenced a national reduction figure and stressed that progress depends on sustaining high coverage and rapid response where surveillance detects new risks.

    The Whistler also reported the NEC briefing and echoed the warning that gains will only hold if surveillance and response remain consistent across states.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Kano and Katsina are pivotal in Nigeria’s polio history—progress there is meaningful but fragile. Watch for stronger routine immunisation (not only campaigns), improved surveillance quality, and faster close-out of ‘zero-dose’ pockets that can reseed outbreaks.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/govt-warns-as-polio-drops-in-kano-katsina/)

  • UNICEF Flags Rising Child Stunting in Ebonyi, Delivers Nutrition Supplements

    UNICEF warned that malnutrition remains a major public health concern in Ebonyi and handed over cartons of small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements. The intervention was supported by a match-fund arrangement involving state co-financing.

    The agency urged efficient last-mile delivery, particularly in rural communities, to curb stunting and improve child health outcomes.

    2025-12-10

    Punch Newspapers

    2025-12-10

  • WHO, UNICEF Raise Fresh Alarm over Threats of Measles Epidemic

    WHO, UNICEF Raise Fresh Alarm over Threats of Measles Epidemic

    World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have called for urgent action to check the impending measles and polio epidemic especially as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to disrupt immunisation services in Nigeria and poorest countries in the world.

    WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, explained that COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on health services and in particular immunisation services worldwide.

    According to him, “We cannot allow the fight against one deadly disease to cause us to lose ground in the fight against other diseases. Addressing global COVID-19 pandemic is critical.

    “However, other deadly diseases also threaten the lives of millions of children in some of the poorest areas of the world.

    “That is why today we are urgently calling for global action from country leaders, donors and partners.

    “We need additional financial resources to safely resume vaccination campaigns and prioritize immunisation systems that are critical to protect children and avert other epidemics besides COVID-19.”

    To UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Peter Hawkins, immunisation is the best way to secure the future of children.

    He said: “All caregivers and parents need to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated and protected from childhood killer diseases – including ensuring that all doses are taken so that the vaccine can be effective.

    ‘We must continue to engage traditional and religious institutions, as well as other key stakeholders at the community level, to stay vigilant and keep up vaccination rates to avert a resurgence of the wild poliovirus

    “Also, we must continue to address the continued threat of vaccine-derived polio and other vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, including measles.”

    Idowu Sowunmi