The spouse of the Sokoto State governor, Hajiya Fatima Aliyu, has expressed her willingness to collaborate with Ms.
Cristian Munduate, the Nigeria Country Representative of the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), on initiatives related to birth registration and nutrition in the state.
This commitment was made during a meeting at her residence on Monday, where she spoke with the UNICEF representative about her mission in Sokoto.
During her visit, Cristian sought to establish a partnership with Governor Aliyu’s wife to enhance birth registration and nutrition conditions in the region. She highlighted the issue at hand, noting that there are approximately 1.5 million unregistered children in Sokoto.
The UNICEF representative, who was in Sokoto for the inauguration of the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), mentioned that the agency aims to make significant strides in reaching unvaccinated children and addressing birth registration concerns as well.
While advising against home deliveries, Cristian praised the governor’s wife for her strong commitment to leading initiatives that support children in the state. “As the governor’s wife, you have the ability to communicate the importance of social services to both the public and the governor,” she noted.
In response, Hajiya Fatima Aliyu expressed gratitude for UNICEF’s efforts across various sectors and assured her support for the organization.
“I want to assure you that, I am hundred percent ready to give UNICEF the maximum support needed to archived the desired success”. she stated.
She also acknowledged the significance of birth registration, emphasizing that a nation lacking accurate data on its legitimate citizens cannot effectively plan for their needs.
Earlier, UNICEF had indicated that the inauguration of the Special Care Baby Unit would represent a major step forward in enhancing maternal and newborn healthcare services in Sokoto State.
“The SCBU, funded by UNICEF’s internal regular resources and GAVI, and constructed by UNICEF on behalf of the Sokoto State Government, will provide specialized care for sick and small newborns”. they stated.
