Moses Ofodeme
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has commended Nigeria for eradication of polio in the country amidst the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
It said this is a huge and great achievement in 2020.
Dr Zakari Adam, Head of UNICEF, Kaduna Field Office, made the commendation on Tuesday in Ilorin during the 2020 End of Year Review and Planning Meeting in Kwara.
He said the feat was achieved as a result of the joint effort of various institutions, commissions, plannings; and partnerships with the Federal and State Governments in Nigeria.
The UNICEF boss, who oversees Kaduna, Kwara, Nasarawa and Niger states, said that the success was huge; adding that the humanitarian aid organisation would focus on how to record more achievements in 2021.
“The Year 2020 was not a waste, despite the lockdown; we recorded success in Nigeria as the country is now declared polio-free.“Our focus now is to improve on the achievement come 2021,” he said.
“UNICEF is not discriminatory against any state; every state has an equal right to benefit from UNICEF’s programmes.
“Just get ready and let us save our children and society at large.
“We want to do more for our children in the area of Health, Nutrition, Education as well as other important aspects needed to be touched.
“It is everybody’s responsibility to join the train to save children,” he said.
He, however, called on pregnant women to visit the hospital regularly for antenatal consultation and also stop self-medication.
In her remark, Mrs Florence Oyeyemi, the Kwara Commissioner for Finance; and Planning commended UNICEF for having the interest of people of Kwara at heart.
She assured the organisation of the state government’s continued cooperation; and also partnership to keep children in the state safe.