UNICEF says Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara will need $15 million to upscale the quality of life of their citizens.

The UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Christian Munduate, said this at a news briefing in Gusau on Wednesday shortly after holding an interactive session with stakeholders from Gidanwada Model Primary School in Bungudu LGA.

Ms Munduate said that the governors of the three states needed to provide matching grants to address the socio-economic challenges and provide quality life for their citizens.

She regretted the prevalence of malnourished children and nursing mothers in the three states. She identified open defecation as a major cause of diseases capable of reversing the polio epidemic in the states.

According to her, children, mothers, and other Nigerians deserve quality education, healthcare and nutrition, among other critical needs.

Ms Munduate urged the three states to collaborate with partners and stakeholders to tackle the challenges and improve the living conditions of their people.

The UNICEF official solicited a strong partnership with all the stakeholders to address the needs of children, mothers, and the entire population of the three states and other Nigerians.

According to her, the record shows that there were at least 5.5 million severe and acute malnourished children in Northern Nigeria.

She further disclosed that no fewer than 40 million Nigerians practise open defecation, which constitutes a major cause of disease outbreaks.

UNICEF, she said, had supported 50 primary healthcare centres in collaboration with the federal government and  Zamfara.

“All the PHCs are functional. We believe that they can maintain them to serve the people’s needs.

”We will be around to provide technical support to ensure sustainability,” Ms Munduate said.

(NAN)