Over 70,000 Nigerian Children Die From Poor Hygiene Annually- UNICEF

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has granted United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) a total of N4.096bn ($9,978,800) to deepen water, sanitation and hygiene services in Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States in north-west Nigeria.

UNICEF said this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

It said in the statement that poor access to water and sanitation hygiene services is the major cause of diarrheal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria and is associated with at least 70,000 deaths in children under five each year.

UNICEF said in the statement that the intervention by USAID aims to support the Nigerian government in providing lifesaving hygiene services to more than 300,000 people in need of assistance.

It stated, “Access to safe hygiene facilities nationwide is low, at 16 percent. This severe shortage of clean water supply, toilets, and hand washing facilities in households across Nigeria presents a formidable challenge.

“In Nigeria, Sokoto and Kebbi States have the lowest levels of access to basic water services at 38 percent and 39 percent, respectively.

“It shows that access to basic sanitation is also low in Kebbi, Zamfara and Sokoto States, at 35 per cent, 38 percent, and 41 per cent, respectively.

“Only five percent of people in Sokoto and one percent in Kebbi have access to safely managed water services.”

Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria commenting on the level of support said that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with prevailing challenges and gaps in hygiene services in north-west Nigeria, is detrimental to the development of children and rural communities.

“We are extremely grateful for the timely and much-needed WASH support from the United States Government.

“Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic have also reinforced the importance of adequate and safe water, basic sanitation, and proper hygiene practices to stem the spread of the disease, including in Nigeria.

“This assistance is a testament to USAID’s commitment to the children and people of Nigeria,” he said.

UNICEF said that the fund will help to build community-centered approaches to deliver, operate, and manage sustainable WASH services in rural areas, and to foster resilience in communities, in collaboration with the State governments.