UNICEF, GAVI Applaud ‘Significant’ Reduction In Under-five Mortality In Katsina
By Zubairu Idris
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced a significant reduction in under-five mortality rate in Katsina State, from 188 to 105 per 1,000 live births between 2018 and 2024.
Mr Rahama Mohammed-Farah, UNICEF’s Chief of the Kano Field Office, citing data from the National Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), said that the reductions highlighted the positive impact of various health interventions and partnerships in the region.
He noted that the interventions had contributed to the improvement in child health and survival rate over the last three years.
Mohammed-Farah made the remarks during the closeout and handover of the Federal Government, UNICEF, and Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) Primary Health Care MoU project in the state.
The event took place on Wednesday, with the project officially transferred to Katsina State Government.
Mohammed-Farah also highlighted key achievements from the three-year partnership.
These include a 20 per cent increase in Penta 3 vaccination coverage, which rose from 33.7 per cent in 2018 to 53.3 per cent in 2023, a significant improvement in measles vaccination rate, and a reduction in zero-dose children recorded between 2018 and 2024.
He said in 2024, more than 300,000 children were vaccinated with Penta 1 and Penta 3, and more than 335,000 children received measles vaccine.
The UNICEF chief added that 305,752 pregnant women recieved their first antenatal care, marking a 98 per cent increase.
Mohammed-Farah said the programme also enrolled 28,811 vulnerable people, including pregnant women and mothers of children under five into health insurance coverage in eight local government areas.
“Furthermore, 99 per cent of adolescent girls in the state were vaccinated against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).”
He disclosed that the GAVI/UNICEF MoU programme invested $7.9 million, with the state providing co-financing of $597,667.
Mohammed-Farah said the funding facilitated improvement in key infrastructures, including solarising cold storage rooms, building a new service coordination office, and distributing 361 motorcycles to reach hard-to-access communities.
Additionally, he said one refrigerated van and three Hilux trucks were acquired to enhance vaccine distribution.
Mohammed-Farah also said seven Primary Health Centres (PHCs) were being renovated, with plans for completion by March.
He said in total, 438 frontline health workers were recruited and integrated into the government workforce, thereby strengthening the overall healthcare delivery system.
In his remarks, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, commended GAVI and UNICEF for their interventions in primary healthcare over the past three years in the state.
He assured government’s commitment to sustaining the gains recorded by continuing to invest in PHC infrastructure and human resources.
The governor called for continuous support from GAVI, UNICEF, WHO, and other development partners to improve maternal and child health and prevent diseases in the state.
