Nigeria Long Way Behind Achieving Children’s Well-Being, Says UN

The United Nations says feedback from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)-National Immunisation Coverage Survey Report (NICS) launched, yesterday, indicates Nigeria has a long way to go in ensuring the well being of its children.

The coordinator, who was represented by Peter Hawkins, the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria said: “The picture is a mixed one. While there has been good progress – and we should celebrate that – we still have a long way to go towards ensuring the well being of children in Nigeria.”

The report, according to the UN, reveals that child mortality decreased from one in eight children dying before their fifth birthday in the 2016 MICS report to one in 10 children in the current report.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who launched the report, said it would serve as a major source of data for baseline analysis and national development.

Osinbajo, who was represented by Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, said the government has made concerted efforts to improve the well-being of its citizens, adding that the report will be an additional instrument for enhancing development.

He said: “It is my hope that launch of the results today and subsequent deliberation on the results will lead to review, design and implications of policies and programmes that will positively impact on the lives of Nigerians, especially, on the lives of women and children.”

In goodwill message, Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, and his Budget and Planning counterpart, Prince Clement Agba, said the report should, by no means, be an end, urging use of the data collected.

By Nkechi Onyedika-Ugoeze and Ameh Ochojila, Abuja

https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria-long-way-behind-achieving-childrens-well-being-says-un/