The United Nation’s Children Fund (UNICEF) has urged government at various levels to end child poverty through effective evidence policy that will create meaningful opportunity for them and their families.
Rafique Nuzhat, chief of UNICEF Field Office, Bauchi, made the call during the celebration of the World Children’s Day, held at Hazibal Hotel, along Yelwa, Tafawa-Balewa Road.
Nuzhat, who was represented by health specialist, Oluseyi Olusende, said that government of the day would create meaningful opportunity for them by educating them, provide conducive learning environment and with enough security for protection.
She said that if governments did, it will definitely help to make the future of Bauchi State children and Nigeria better.
She further said that government can also provide them with water for bathing and washing for the good of their health.
According to her, “Water is essential because when a mother delivers, we need water to clean the woman and the baby. We need water to clean the equipment used for the delivery.”
Nuzhat said that Bauchi State was one of the states with heavy lot of zero dose children which needs to be reduces because Immunization is the first right of every child from the day the child is born.
Zero dose means children that are not being vaccinated or children that have not received vaccination. She urged government, parents, community and religious leaders to ensure every child is reached with basic vaccine.
“We also need to expand access to education in order to reduce the number out-of-school children by addressing poverty, insecurity and structural barriers, because most of them will be local government chairmen, governors, presidents, lawyers, teachers and others.”
According to her, the future of the children depends on how leaders of today respect and protect their rights.
