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UNICEF’s child survival
efforts get N940m boost from Japan
By SAMU T. ACHIE ____________________________________________________________________
It is estimated that one out of every
five Nigerian children will die before their fifth birthday. Malaria
alone is responsible for one quarter of these deaths while vaccine
preventable diseases such as measles, tetanus or diphtheria are also
among the major causes of child mortality. This very high level of
child mortality can be reduced with simple, affordable interventions
such as immunization and the use of insecticide-treated nets to
prevent malaria. Nigeria also remains one of the only four countries
in the world that has not yet interrupted indigenous wild poliovirus
transmission, and accounts for 92% of the cases in Africa currently.
As a way of assisting Nigeria to tackle these health issues, the
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recently received a grant of
N940 Million (US $ 8.04 Million) for Child Survival programmes in
Nigeria. Donated by the Government of Japan, the grant is for polio
eradication, routine immunization and the prevention of malaria.
The Exchange of Notes between H.E. Mr. Toshitsugu Uesawa, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Nigeria, and Dr.
Robert Limlim, UNICEF Representative, took place last week at the UN
House in the presence of Dr. Shehu Sule, Permanent Secretary,
Federal Ministry of Information, and Mr. Kuniaki Amatsu, Deputy
Country Representative of Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).
“With this donation, the government and people of Japan have once
again renewed their commitment to child survival in Nigeria. This
large donation will contribute immensely to Nigeria’s drive towards
achieving the health Millennium Development Goals by 2015”, said Dr.
Robert Limlim, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. “It is timely too
with the current resurgence of wild polio virus in Nigeria and the
fight to interrupt its transmission this year.”
This year’s contribution from the Government of Japan will be used
for the procurement of polio vaccines, child survival supplies such
as Oral Rehydration Sachets, deworming tablets for children aged 1
to 5 years and also drugs for malaria prevention in pregnant women.
In addition, 159,300 Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLIN) will be
procured for malaria control.
This will complement the 521,500 Long Lasting Insecticide Nets
already procured in the last two years with funding from the
Government of Japan. These nets will be distributed to the most
deprived and hard to reach families in communities as well as
pregnant women attending ante-natal care and children who will have
completed their scheduled vaccinations as an incentive to boost
immunization.
Since 2000, the Government of Japan has contributed about N5 Billion
(US $44.24 Million) for the prevention of infectious diseases in
Nigeria through UNICEF/Federal Government of Nigeria Programme of
Co-operation.
“I earnestly hope that this project will foster the welfare of
Nigerian children,” said, Mr Toshitsugu Uesawa, Ambassador of Japan.
“I expect Nigerians to take action to accomplish the Millennium
Development Goals. As long as Nigeria maintains its ownership, Japan
will be together with Nigerian people as a partner and a friend.”
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